(Clearwisdom.net) On the evening of April 24, 2009, Falun Gong practitioners in the greater Philadelphia area held a candlelight vigil in front of the Liberty Bell to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the "April 25" appeal and to protest the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) ten-year-long brutal persecution. They also commemorated the more than three thousand Falun Gong practitioners who have lost their lives in the persecution.
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On the evening of April 24, 2009, Falun Gong practitioners in the greater Philadelphia area held a candlelight vigil in front of the Liberty Bell to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the April 25 appeal |
| Tourists passing-by stopped to learn the facts and signed the petition calling for an end to the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong |
| On the tenth anniversary of the April 25 appeal, Falun Gong practitioners in the greater Philadelphia area held a candlelight vigil in front of the Liberty Bell |
| Ms. Beverly Jordan signs the petition calling for a stop to the CCP's persecution |
| Volunteers from the Guardian Angels organization said, "We Guardian Angels wish to stand with Falun Gong practitioners and support you!" |
| A tourist from Poland signs the petition to protest the persecution of Falun Gong |
Local practitioners who participated in the original April 25 appeal narrated their own experiences. Many passersby stopped and listened. Many of them signed the petition to support Falun Gong practitioners' efforts against the persecution.
Thirty tourists from Poland came forward to ask questions after visiting the Liberty Bell. Many of them did not understand English, but when a translator told them the facts of the persecution, they expressed sympathy for Falun Gong and signed the petition since they knew the evil nature of the Communist Party.
Ms. Wang and Ms. Geng narrated their own experience of ten years ago in Beijing. Ms. Geng said, "We had a simple idea to communicate with the government. The peace and rationality shown by the practitioners set up a model for Chinese people. That is, when people face unfair treatment, how to express ourselves peacefully and what actions to take."
Beverly Jordan stood off to the side quietly from the beginning to the end of the event. She said, "It is horrible! I cannot ignore this. When I saw the photos on display, I knew I must stop [and find out more]. Such a peaceful practice must not be treated in such an unfair way. I'd like to do whatever I can to help stop the persecution. I hope you succeed."
