(Clearwisdom.net) On July 10, 2008, the German branch of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG) issued a a press release to the German media about the "Million Signatures Global Campaign to Stop the Persecution of Falun Gong before the Beijing Olympics" that would take place in 13 cities across the country on July 12. The cities included Berlin, Dresden, Frankfurt, Wurzburg, Augsburg, Titisee, Mannheim, Rudesheim, Koln, Dusseldorf, Mulheim a.d.Ruhr, Osnabruck, and Hamburg.
On July 12, many signed the petition right after reading the leaflets and learning about the persecution of Falun Gong.
Hamburg: Live organ harvesting stuns the public
Hamburg residents lined up to sign the petition
Reenactment of the CCP live organ harvesting
An information stand was set up in the city center. Falun Gong practitioners set up a re-enactment of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners, which stunned passers-by. After receiving leaflets, many people lined up to sign the petition calling for an end to the CCP atrocities. An elderly woman said, "Life is not valued in China. Without immediate improvement in this regard, I am against China's holding the Olympics." Seeing the organ harvesting reenactment, a young man said, "I am shocked. This is Communism. The Communist Party keeps doing these things." Another elderly lady returned after leaving her signature to bring chocolates to the practitioners.
A group of Chinese first refused but later accepted truth-clarification literature about the persecution of Falun Gong. Another group of Chinese passed by with indifferent expressions on their faces. They also ignored practitioners who tried to explain the facts to them. Later they passed by on their return and still refused accept any literature. But they walked very slowly, as if they wanted to take the leaflets but dared not.
Dusseldorf: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance moves a woman to tears
Dusseldorf residents sign the petition calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong
Since April last year, Falun Gong practitioners have been holding information day activities at Heinrich-Heine-Platz at the city center every week. Their consistent efforts have brought about changes in people's attitudes. Nowadays many are very concerned about the persecution of Falun Gong. On July 12, they also signed to show their support.
Koln: People that had never heard about the persecution of Falun Gong
In front of the famous Koln Church, practitioners set up their customary information stand. Every weekend for quite a few years they have been clarifying the facts to tourists from all over the world, especially to those from mainland China. During the 12-day event, they collected signatures from all around the world. Three tourists from South America had never heard about the persecution. They studied the photo exhibits and banners to learn more. A practitioner who could speak Spanish told them about the persecution and organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners. They signed the petition immediately.
A German from Bavaria was startled by the persecution photos and banners on his way home. He asked what they were about. Having been to China as tourists a short while ago, he and his wife witnessed how the tyrannical authorities mistreated people, especially migrant workers, immigrants from the Three Gorges Dam, and farmers whose lands were confiscated for development. When he learned about the serious persecution of Falun Gong for the first time, he readily signed the petition.
Wurzburg: A man's sadness and hope
The event at Alten Mainbrucke in Wurzburg in the old town center was connected to a large-scale folk festival by the old bridge that was full of passersby. There were more supporters than ever.
When Jiang Renzheng, a practitioner from Wurzburg, applied for asylum, he was deemed an ordinary practitioner who would not be harmed by the Chinese authorities. He was deported to China along with his wife and two young children. As soon as he returned, he was illegally detained and sent to a labor camp. After strong protests from the German government, he was released. The German government has been making efforts in hopes that Jiang's family could return to Germany but to no avail. Because of what happened to Mr. Jiang, Western countries have witnessed how brutally the CCP treats its own people and how the CCP behaves even more wantonly as a result of the international community turning a blind eye to its tyranny.
A German who once learned the practice from Mr. Jiang happened to pass the bridge. When he read about Mr. Jiang's plight after being deported to China, he raised this issue with his MP. When he saw poster boards exposing the organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners, he was indignant. At once he signed the petition form. He promised to write to his MP again and to start practicing Falun Gong.
Dresden: Rain could not stop the voice of justice
Dresden residents signed the petition
In the center of Dresden, a light rain could not stop the voice of justice. Having learned the truth, residents from all walks of life, including students, teachers, engineers, scientists, artists, company executives, government employees, etc. signed the petition to condemn the persecution. People were pleased to learn that the total number of signatures collected had exceeded 980,000.
An aid to a Saxon Minister passed by the stand. Learning about the petition, he did not hesitate to put down his name. Subsequently he talked with practitioners about human rights abuses in China and paid a great deal of attention to the organ harvesting from living practitioners.
Having signed her name, a Turkish lady who grew up in Germany praised the practitioners for their efforts and encouraged them to keep it up. She had high regard for Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and spent a long time inquiring about the book Zhuan Falun and practice sites. Before leaving, she asked practitioners for some petition forms and related materials, promising to help collect signatures.
Frankfurt: The truth changes her mind
People signing the petition
The event in front of St. Paul's Church drew many people's attention. They stopped to watch exercise demonstrations and examined the poster boards carefully. Many people queued up to sign the petition calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. A Chinese passing by said, "Look! Westerners also practice Falun Gong." Some Chinese quit the CCP and its youth organizations on the spot. An elderly Chinese couple took a variety of Chinese literature from the stand. The gentleman said that his family was also persecuted before in China. "The CCP is very bad and has not done a single good thing."
A teacher in her 50s, Ms. Christine Schmitt, did not know much about Falun Gong initially other than what she'd heard from CCP propaganda. Practitioners told her that the CCP slanders and defames Falun Gong. When she understood what Falun Gong is really all about, she relaxed and took some literature before leaving. About 20 minutes later, she was seen again in the line, waiting to sign the petition.
Having seen the exhibits, a resident from a nearby small town said, "I support Falun Dafa." When asked whether she knew about Falun Dafa, she said her brother and ex-husband had been practicing for a few years without being in touch with other practitioners. She was very happy to see other Falun Gong practitioners in Frankfurt.
Augsburg: An entire family signs the petition
At a multi-cultural festival in Augsburg, Town Hall Square was packed with people from all over the world. A group of middle school students wearing T-shirts with interlocking handcuffs instead of Olympic rings designed by Reporters Without Borders came to Falun Gong's information stand and signed the petition.
Practitioners also went around to other information stands to collect signatures. In front of a Vietnamese stand, a practitioner from Vietnam explained the facts about the persecution. Soon many people lined up to sign their names.
Category: Rallies & Protests
