USA: Los Angeles Practitioners Hold A Candlelight Vigil to Commemorate Fellow Practitioners Who Gave Their Lives for the Truth (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) To commemorate fellow practitioners who have been uncompromising to the brutal persecution and gave their lives to persist in their belief in "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," Falun Gong practitioners in Los Angeles held a candlelight vigil entitled, "Commemorate Uncompromising Spirit, Protect Imperishable Conscience" on July 20, 2004 outside the Chinese Consulate. The practitioners lit candles and sent forth righteous thoughts once every 30 minutes. They hoped the public would learn more about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, protect innocent people and uphold righteousness and conscience so as to put an end to the brutal persecution that has lasted for five years.

On July 20, 1999, Jiang Zemin ordered a nation-wide arrest of Falun Gong practitioners in China. As for today, the persecution has lasted for five years, as a result, more than a hundred thousand practitioners have been sent to prison, forced labor camps and mental hospitals. The number of practitioners who are verified to have died as a result of the persecution exceeded 1,000, the outside estimation of the actual death toll may be well over 5,000, and even more than that.

Over the past five years, Falun Gong practitioners have been using their tremendous endurance to uphold human being's dignity, protect innocence. They used their sincerity to face lies, kindness to face evil, tolerance to treat violence. Thousands of uncompromising lives have passed away for persisting in their belief in "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance," and have established their historic monuments.

In the dark night, candlelight saluted thousands of uncompromising souls. A small candle flame can drive loneliness away from walkers, and strengthen courageous people. Dafa practitioners believe that kindness will definitely triumph over brutality, righteousness will definitely clear away evil, and upholding the universal principle "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance" will definitely embrace rays of morning all over the sky.