(Clearwisdom.net) On July 11 and 12, when thousands of people traveled to St. Louis to watch the 2009 All-Star Baseball Game on July 14, Falun Gong practitioners held a two-day activity in front of the Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis to condemn the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) ten-year-long persecution of Falun Gong.
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Falun Gong practitioners meditated in front of the Old Courthouse, calling for an end to the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong in China |
| The Old Courthouse in St. Louis is a famous landmark that represents the quest for freedom |
| Clarifying the truth to people |
| This person prayed for the Falun Gong practitioners persecuted by the CCP in China
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| Two passersby (Patrick and John) learning Falun Gong exercise four |
| Patrick and John joined the "Million Minutes of Meditation" until the end of the event
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| A mother and her three children joined the meditation and candlelight vigil. |
The Old Courthouse is an important landmark for the city of St. Louis. Many important historical events have happened here, the most well-known being in 1847 and 1850, when African American slave Mr. Dred Scott appealed to the court twice for the right of personal freedom. The landmark case ended with Mr. Scott's freedom being denied, but became an indirect cause of the later Civil War, which eventually freed all slaves.
Falun Gong practitioners hosted the activity at this symbolic place, in order to help more people become aware of the persecution of innocent Falun Gong practitioners in China. Beginning on July 20, 1999, the persecution has lasted nearly 10 years. Freedom of belief is regarded as a basic freedom honored throughout the world, but in China, the brutal persecution against a group of people who believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is still ongoing.
Two practitioners held up a banner reading, "Million Minutes of Meditation to Stop Persecution of Falun Gong in China," while other practitioners meditated in front of the banner. This peaceful scene was very striking in the noisy and bustling downtown area.
The traffic near the Old Courthouse was busy. When the traffic light turned red, cars stopped and many drivers looked toward the Old Courthouse trying to see what was happening there. Many opened their windows to receive a flier and thanked the practitioners.
Across the street facing the Old Courthouse is a small park with a gazebo and a fountain. A lot of people had come there to rest, play and watch the ballgame. Several practitioners went to the park to pass out fliers. Many people listened to the practitioners' truth-clarification and immediately signed the petition condemning the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong.
One person, originally from India, declined to take a flier from a practitioner and left. After a while, he came back to the practitioner and said excitedly that he received waves of energy from across the street from the Old Courthouse and saw that the practitioners were meditating there. Being from India, the origin of Buddhism, he is no stranger to cultivation and meditation, but this was his first experience to feel such a strong energy field. He asked for a flier and said he wanted to study more about Falun Gong later.
When people heard that they could join the meditation for a few minutes as a support to the endeavor to end the persecution, some people joined the meditation among the practitioners.
One man walked across the street and sat among the practitioners. He asked a practitioner if he knew the special meaning of this building. When he received an affirmative answer, he said, "You chose the right place to express your opinion of freedom of belief. Any persecution against the freedom of belief must be condemned. I fully support you!"
Paul, who works in the nearby baseball stadium, mediated a few minutes between games. Even though it was only a few minutes, he said he felt a strong energy field and was very comfortable.
Many people joined the mediation and took fliers to learn more about Falun Gong.
When the event was about to end, a mother and her three children arrived. They asked about the event and meditated to show their support. When a practitioner also told her that she could join the weekend group exercise in the park, she was very happy to accept the invitation.
The two-day event was a success, and the St. Louis practitioners are now preparing a series of commemorative activities on July 20 to denounce the CCP's ten-year persecution of Falun Gong.
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