(Clearwisdom.net) Nearly 2,500 Falun Gong practitioners from around the world gathered in Washington DC on July 17, 2009, prior to the date marking the tenth year of the start of the persecution of Falun Gong and Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful resistance. Following the rally and candlelight vigil held on July 16th, the practitioners took to the streets once again, holding a grand march to call upon more people to pay attention to the persecution of Falun Gong in China, clearly see the evil nature of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and stop the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong.
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The same lawn, the same steadfast spirit
Falun Gong practitioners began a large-scale group practice at 9:30 a.m. on the west lawn of Capitol Hill. Just past noon, a grand march spanning eleven blocks set off, with the Divine Land Marching Band, in blue and white uniforms, leading the procession. The march of several thousand people proceeded from the National Mall in front of Capitol Hill all the way to Liberty Square near the White House.
Ten years ago, on July 20, 1999, the CCP started the persecution of Falun Gong. Overseas Falun Gong practitioners heard the news, and went to lodge their appeals and peaceful protests with Chinese embassies and local governments, clarifying the facts about Falun Gong and calling for an end to the persecution. At that time, practitioners throughout North America went to Washington DC and gathered on the west lawn of Capitol Hill--the very venue where the candlelight vigil was held on July 16 and the large-scale group practice of more than a thousand practitioners on July 17, 2009.
Since then, at this time every year, practitioners from around the world gather together in Washington DC to hold rallies and marches, calling upon people from all walks of life to send out their righteous voices to stop the persecution. Many American people have stood up to support Falun Gong practitioners' efforts to end the persecution.
Dr. Liu Yi, who took part in the rally on Capitol Hill ten years ago, said, "Ten years ago, in the burning sun, we silently and peacefully sat on the lawn in front of Capitol Hill, and then we did the exercises. At that time, our hearts were heavy, because so many practitioners in China were being arrested. We were also puzzled, having no idea what to do and what would happen next.
"A practitioner held a banner made by a practitioner in China; the words on the banner were, 'As firm as a rock.' I was extremely moved upon seeing the banner at that time." Dr. Liu could not hold back her tears while speaking of this scene.
Dr. Yang Sen, coordinator for the Mid-US Falun Dafa Association, recalled this moment ten years ago, "I arrived here on July 22 ten years ago. The CCP started the persecution of Falun Gong on July 20th and started large-scale arrests of practitioners on July 22. Then the CCP mobilized the entire state media tၯ start slandering Falun Gong. We were at a bit of a loss at the time, because we follow Truth-Compassion-Forbearance to be good people; we only teach others to do the exercises in our spare time. After practicing Falun Gong, we recovered from illnesses, and our moral standard is upgraded; all we did was to do good things for society, but all of sudden, we were labeled with so many bad names."
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Dr. Yang continued, "We were clear about one thing at that time: no matter what the CCP says, it is not true; we have our own personal experiences. We read a statement on the lawn. I remember one sentence clearly, that is, we, Falun Gong practitioners, will remain forever steadfast in cultivating Truth-Compassion-Forbearance. This sentence remains the same today.
"Take a look at history; no persecution of religious beliefs in history, no matter how powerful the authorities were at the time, has ever succeeded. Ten years ago, nobody heard about the Divine Land Marching Band; today, the majestic Divine Land Marching Band led the march. Practitioners have used all peaceful means possible in these past ten years to tell people the true situation. I want to tell the CCP that Falun Gong practitioners will persevere all the way until the end, regardless of whether it is ten years or an even longer period of time," Dr. Yang said.
Ten years of efforts to end the persecution, ten years of spreading the truth
Since 1999, from pushing open the door to Capitol Hill for the first time, to traveling every corner of the world to spread the truth, Falun Gong practitioners have taken a path that is tough and harsh but with a firm determination to end the persecution.
Dr. Liu Yi recalls, "After July 20, 1999, many of us went to Congress. We only wanted to let the US Congress know that there was such a big persecution taking place in China. People working in the offices of the Congress basically had no idea what Falun Gong was, neither did they know what had happened in China. We explained to them how we had benefited from practicing Falun Gong and that the practitioners in China were being arrested. Later, the Congress passed Resolution No.218 [condemning the persecution]."
Dr. Yang Sen said in an interview, "The persecution is not only a persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, but also of their friends and relatives who have been implicated, the police officers who have been mislead by the lies of the CCP and done bad deeds, and the Chinese people who unreasonably hate Falun Gong [due to the CCP's negative propaganda]. All are victims of the persecution. If the CCP is not gone, there will be no hope for the Chinese nation."
Dr. Liu Yi said before the end of the interview, "Today we are no longer at a loss as we were ten years ago. We know what our future will be, and also what the future of humanity will be after Falun Gong practitioners' efforts of truth clarification, so I am full of hope."
The world shows concern, righteous people support Dafa
The Falun Gong procession was vast, moving forward along Pennsylvania Avenue. People on the route were drawn to the spectacular scene of so many practitioners and banners, and stopped to watch. Many people who watched the grand march expressed their support for Falun Gong.
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Lawyer: I have paid attention to Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful resistance against the persecution for several years
Kevin Fahey, a lawyer at the Supreme Court, heard the music and came out to watch the Falun Gong practitioners' march. Holding a little paper lotus flower with a bookmark that read, "Falun Dafa is great," he carefully read a Falun Gong truth-clarification flyer. When the reporter asked if he had heard about Falun Gong before, he answered that he had paid attention to the practitioners' peaceful resistance against the persecution for several years.
"I really can't understand the persecution," said Mr. Fahey. "First, the persecution is terrible, and is against what this country [the U.S.] upholds. Second, I fail to understand what is wrong with the CCP; this [Falun Gong] seems to pose no threat, nor have any political agenda. Why does the CCP persecute Falun Gong?"
Mr. Fahey feels that it is good to raise people's awareness of the persecution, and believes that pressure from the international community should play a role in putting an end to the persecution.
Government officer of Korean descent: We don't like the Communist Party
Peter came from Korea to the United Sates over 30 years ago, and works in a government department. He stood on the street, quietly watching the Falun Gong procession. He learned Chinese as a child, so he can understand the messages on the practitioners' banners and signs. Peter told the reporter that he had read a lot of related information, and has a favorable impression of Falun Gong. He said that it is good to protest the CCP's atrocities this way.
"I don't like the Communist Party. I heard that the CCP tortures innocent people. Many people in China strive for freedom. I hope they can enjoy freedom as we do," Peter said.
Staff member of the Treasury Department: It's good to voice belief
Jerald works in the Treasury Department. He smiled while watching the Falun Gong practitioners' march. He said, "It's good that people voice their concern for their belief. It's good to protest against those unjust things happening in their countries.
"In the past years, Falun Gong practitioners have held protests in downtown Washington DC, so I have paid attention to the persecution happening in China. When people exercise their freedom of belief and speech [in China], they are thrown into prison."
Upon hearing about the CCP's organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners, Jerald said, "It's sad. I hope our government can take measures to help stop the persecution."
Background
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a traditional Chinese spiritual discipline for mind and body. The practice involves slow, gentle movements and meditation. It is easy to learn, enjoyable to practice, and free of charge. Its principles are based on Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance. The practice began in China in 1992 and quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China and then beyond. Today, Falun Gong is practiced by over 100 million people in 60 countries. The main works of Falun Gong are available in over 30 languages. On July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a brutal persecution of Falun Gong. Since the start of the persecution, Falun Gong practitioners throughout the world have been constantly speaking out about the truth of Falun Gong and exposing the CCP's crimes in a tireless effort to end the persecution.
