(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Gong practitioners in Japan held a rally and march on July 18, 2010 in Yokohama to call attention to the persecution China and to draw support to end the persecution that has persisted for eleven years.

At 1:10 p.m. on July 18, 2010, Falun Gong practitioners held a rally in Odori Park in Yokohama. Ms. Shantian spoke at the rally. She said that the Chinese Communist agents arrested her older sister in China on January 29, 2010 because she refused to give up her practice of Falun Gong. She was held in the Masanjia Forced Labor Camp and Fushun Brainwashing Center, where she was subjected to severe mental torment. Ms. Shantian called upon people from all walks of life in Japan to pay attention to the plight of her sister and all other practitioners who have been subjected to the same persecution in China. Democracy activist Wang Tianzeng condemned the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) atrocities and expressed his respect for Falun Gong practitioners who have been working tirelessly to resist the persecution over the past eleven years. Tokyo Council members including Koitiro Yoshida and Takayuki Tsutiya sent letters of support, calling for the guarantee of Falun Gong practitioners' basic human rights, an end to the persecution, and the immediate release of all illegally detained practitioners in China. They said that they would stand with Falun Gong practitioners and work together to end the persecution.

A representative of the Japan Falun Dafa Association said in his address at the rally, "The Chinese Communist regime has carried out an inhuman campaign of persecution against Falun Gong practitioners, who have not committed any crime. The CCP has gone so far as harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. Relatives of some Chinese practitioners in Japan have been subjected to imprisonment, abuse, mistreatment and torture. Their lives are at risk. We hope to immediately stop this irrational persecution, and we also hope that the Japanese government will help secure the release of those detained practitioners."

The Falun Dafa Association spokesman also said that over the past eleven years, practitioners have worked tirelessly to spread the truth of Falun Gong and the persecution to the general public. As long as the persecution continues, Falun Gong practitioners will continue their efforts to expose the CCP's brutality and evil nature.

At 2:30 p.m. a grand march set off from Odori Park. The procession traveled past City Hall on the busiest streets, lasting for two hours. The Divine Land Marching Band took the lead. Behind the band were women practitioners in white clothing carrying portraits of practitioners who have died as a result of the persecution. Banners reading "Falun Dafa is good" and "Stop the persecution of Falun Gong" in both Chinese and Japanese were seen in the procession. There was also an exhibit exposing the torture of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Along the parade route, practitioners handed out informational materials about Falun Gong.

Many passersby and tourists were attracted by the parade. Many people took the informational materials and read them carefully, and many asked questions. People expressed shock that practitioners have suffered such brutal persecution in China simply for practicing Falun Gong.

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 Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The practice began in China in 1992 and quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China and then beyond. Its beneficial effects in uplifting an individual's physical, mental, and spiritual health, not to mention its positive influence in the community and society as a whole, have been undeniable. In fact, 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.