(Clearwisdom.net) On Saturday, April 24, 2010, nearly one thousand Falun Gong practitioners participated in a grand march and rally in Flushing, New York to commemorate the eleventh anniversary of the April 25 peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing.
The procession was divided into three parts with themes relating to the worldwide spread of Falun Dafa, the unprecedented persecution, worldwide support, and the Quit the CCP movement [Quit the Chinese Communist Party].
The day was sunny with a light breeze. Crowds of people lined the march route in Chinatown. Many people took photos or video footage of the march.
Falun Gong practitioners hold a grand march in Flushing, New York to commemorate the April 25 appeal
Worldwide Spread of Falun Dafa
The April 25 peaceful appeal in 1999 was reported by media around the world, which accelerated the spread of Falun Gong. Within 11 years, Falun Dafa has spread to 114 countries and regions. The book Zhuan Falun has been translated into more than 40 languages.
The march was led by the Divine Land Marching Band. Its majestic music set the tone for this solemn event.
A banner that read, "Falun Dafa spreads to 114 countries and regions" followed the band.
Young women dressed as beautiful celestial maidens holding lotus flowers preceded a large replica of the book Zhuan Falun. Classical lanterns, colorful banners and various posters presented the message "Falun Dafa is good," and Falun Dafa's principles of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance.
The exercise demonstration team was composed of practitioners of various ages wearing golden exercise suits. They demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises.
Unprecedented Persecution
The April 25 appeal in 1999 was peaceful and orderly from beginning to end. There was no shouting, banners or slogans. After the former Prime Minister met with a few of the practitioners who volunteered to represent the group, and properly handled the issue, the practitioners left quietly. The incident was twisted by former CCP head Jiang Zemin and used as a pretext to initiate the unprecedented brutal persecution of Falun Gong.
Dozens of Falun Gong practitioners in white dresses holding photos of practitioners who were tortured to death by the CCP walked in the procession in Flushing. The documented death cases of Falun Gong practitioners due to police brutality are more than 3,000. Among them are practitioners over 70 years old, middle-aged people, and young students. Practitioners holding posters with photos exposing the CCP's methods of torture followed.
Large banners and posters presented the following facts: The April 25 peaceful appeal was twisted by the CCP as being a siege of the central government compound; The CCP staged the Tiananmen self-immolation incident to frame Falun Gong; Practitioners are sentenced to prison and suffer tortures for explaining the truth about Falun Gong; The CCP police beat practitioners to death and claimed they were suicides; The CCP commits ruthless crimes in the persecution, including organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners.
Worldwide Support and the Quit the CCP Movement
Facing torture, unlawful imprisonment and even death, hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners in China continue to spread the truth about the persecution and tell people "Falun Dafa is good." More and more people have begun to recognize the truth, and support Falun Gong practitioners. More and more Chinese people have realized the evil nature of the CCP and announced their withdrawal from the CCP and its affiliated organizations.
Large banners in Chinese and English drew attention to the noble support of the US House of Representatives in the passing of Resolution 605 in March 2010, calling for the end of the persecution of Falun Gong.
Another large banner informed spectators that lawyers in 29 countries have filed lawsuits against Jiang Zemin.
Another large banner congratulated the 72 million Chinese people who have quit the CCP. Other banners promoted the Quit-the-CCP movement and the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party.
The waist drum team playing to the music "Falun Dafa Is Good" was the grand finale of the procession.
Many people watching the march decided to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations and expressed an interest in learning Falun Gong.
"I Support Falun Gong"
Mr. Song watched the march and told a reporter, "I am sympathetic towards Falun Gong. The CCP's persecution is a fact. I experienced the CCP's persecution, even when I was in school. I appealed and sent petition letters, but got no result. The CCP does not follow the law. Some people don't believe this because they never experienced the CCP's crimes. The sinister crime of organ harvesting is really happening in China. I have a friend who has worked in the US for more than ten years. He had a severe liver problem and went to Zhongshan Hospital for an organ transplant. It was done in a short time. Blood type matching was done on the spot. The organs were from Falun Gong practitioners. The cost was 1.25 million yuan. He used his entire savings from working in the US. The CCP is very cruel and must fall. If the CCP collapses, all ordinary people in China will applaud. Falun Gong is doing a great deed for people. It is not easy. I admire Falun Gong. If the CCP is not disintegrated, there is no hope for a good future. The CCP's special agents are everywhere around the world."
Mr. Chen told the reporter, "I work at night. Every morning I see a lady distributing the Epoch Times newspaper. She said there would be a march today. I slept for two hours and then came to watch." When asked about quitting the CCP, he said firmly, "Only by quitting the CCP, can one have a good life. I support Falun Gong."
