Falun Gong practitioners participate in the Independence Day Parade for the fifth time in Washington DC, the capital of the United States
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The Fourth of July is Independence Day in the United States, and also a national holiday in the US. Falun Gong practitioners from Washington DC and New York were invited to participate in the Independence Day Parade for the fifth year in Washington DC, adding unique oriental divine charm to this grand celebration.
Vast and mighty Divine Land Marching Band
Elegant float
The sweltering weather did not deter several hundred thousand enthusiastic spectators on both sides of Constitution Avenue. Over a hundred groups took part in the parade, which featured all kinds of floats, military bands and dancing performances. Many groups focused on the theme of celebrating freedom and independence. The Falun Gong practitioners' contingent was the 99th in the parade procession.
Three practitioners in exercise costumes walked at the front of the contingent holding a banner reading "Falun Dafa" in both Chinese and English. Following closely was the Divine Land Marching Band composed of more than two hundred Falun Gong practitioners. The band was divided into eight columns, traversing the entire Constitution Avenue, vast and mighty.
Behind the band was an exquisite float on which several Falun Gong practitioners of different nationalities demonstrated the exercises. A huge pink lotus flower blossomed on top of the float, together with numerous smaller lotus flowers symbolizing Falun Gong practitioners' purity and uprightness. Four "celestial maidens" in traditional Tang Dynasty costumes elegantly danced on both sides of the float. The Falun Gong practitioners' performance gained rounds of applause from the audience.
Mr. Tie, who was among the spectators who once served in the US Air Force, and currently works in Washington DC, said, "It is really not easy to have such a free environment here, but most of time, we take all this for granted." When seeing Falun Gong practitioners' contingent pass by he said, "Here is a free country, everyone can express their principles freely. I sincerely hope that people in other places can enjoy the same freedom as we do."
Albert Monroa and Mary Faynyuk, two volunteers from Amnesty International were also among the spectators. Mr. Monroa said, "I treat the Independence Day every year as a reminder, reminding us of the principle for founding this country. We have responsibility to make more efforts to allow more people in the world to enjoy the same freedom as we do."
On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was officially adopted in Philadelphia in the United States. Today is the 230th anniversary. This day every year, a variety of activities, such as parades, memorial ceremonies, concerts, and fireworks displays are held across the United States to celebrate the special day.
On the occasion of the July 1 - Global Quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Day, the Canadian Service Center for Quitting the CCP held a rally in Zhongshan Park in Chinatown, Montreal on the afternoon of July 1, 2006, to support more than eleven million Chinese people who quit the vile CCP and its affiliated organizations. The rally called for more people to wake up and not be associated with the vile CCP. After the rally, with the police clearing the way and "The Divine Land Marching Band in Canada," composed of more than 150 Falun Gong practitioners from Toronto taking the lead, people who participated in the rally marched around Chinatown.
 The Divine Land Marching Band in Chinatown |
 Parade procession supporting quitting the CCP |
The rally was hosted by Mr. Liu Jinan from the Canadian Service Center for Quitting the CCP. Ms. Yang Dongdong from the Montreal Service Center for Quitting the CCP, Mr. Chen Yuansen, a Chinese writer living overseas, and Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Zhu Xueye made speeches.
Yang Dongdong said, "Eleven million is not a simple number, it is a divine direction. In China, quitting the CCP is no longer a topic in private conversation, but a trend. More people have been clear about kindness and evil."
Zhu Xueye said, "Seeing the Divine Land Marching Band in Canada composed of Falun Gong practitioners participate in today's rally to support the eleven million Chinese people who quit the CCP, I'm especially moved. In front of the vile CCP's brutal persecution, even if facing the heinous persecution such as harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners in the CCP's forced labor camps and concentration camps, Falun Gong practitioners around the world still follow Master's teaching of 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance' to be strict with themselves, unwaveringly committed to clarifying the truth in a peaceful and rational manner, and display the wonderfulness of Falun Gong. The CCP's viciousness becomes even more evident, so that Chinese people are able to resolutely choose righteousness and truth, and abandon the vile CCP."
Chen Yuansen called for everyone not to be associated with the CCP, and "try all means possible to spread the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party to friends and relatives, and help them learn about the truth and see clearly the CCP's true nature, so that more people will quite the CCP." Mr. Chen suggested that people quit the vile CCP to become a new person, and pay attention to one's moral character. He encouraged them to stand on the commanding point of morality, gather abundant support, and ultimately greet the CCP's early disintegration.
Zhu Xueye finally said at the rally, "The moment of the CCP's disintegration will be the moment of the Chinese people obtaining happiness."