(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Gong practitioners in Melbourne recently held several activities to mark the anniversary of the persecution in China and call for support.

On July 17, the practitioners rallied and marched in the downtown area to expose the 12-year brutal persecution of Falun Gong, and to support 100 million brave Chinese people who have withdrawn from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations. 

The Divine Land Marching Band

July 17 march in downtown Melbourne

Practitioners march in Chinatown

Practitioners march in Chinatown

Torture re-enactment 

Practitioners expose the CCP's torture 

Mr. Peter Westmore, chairperson of the National Civic Council, attended the rally, and he pointed out that Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance are universal values which should be honored by every Australian, and the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners for practicing these principles is not acceptable. He said that he was shocked to find out that the CCP has extended the persecution outside China and that even the Melbourne city council was pressured by the CCP.

“We must say no to this,” said Westmore, “I think that every person in the west should know what is happening in China and support those who are persecuted in China.”

Mr. Peter Westmore, chairperson of the National Civic Council

Justin is a Chinese student who came to Australia 4 months ago. He wrote down what his family had experienced during the persecution and had a practitioner read the story in English at the rally. He wrote: Many relatives of mine practice Falun Gong. Since the persecution started in July 1999, they have been brutally persecuted. All of the immediate family members of my mom’s sister were detained in labor camps or brainwashing centers one after another. To avoid being arrested, my mom left our home and was moving from one city to another. My brother-in-law was sentenced to 3 years in prison for conducting an appeal for Falun Gong in Beijing. Such tragedies are still happening in China.”

Falun Gong practitioners demonstrate the exercises

Many people watch the demonstration

A young man signs the practitioners’ petition

People reading practitioners’ truth-clarifying posters

After listening to speeches at the rally, actor Jack W. Matthews signed his name on the practitioners’ petition form. He said that the event was very powerful and it helped young people like him know about the persecution. “Freedom of belief is a basic right in countries like Australia. But in China, people are being persecuted because of their belief in ‘Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance.’ I am very lucky to learn about this. This event inspires people to ponder the question of how to help them.”

John is a member of a Scottish church. He said that the practitioners' band gave a great performance. “This event is very meaningful, and I fully support you and hope that the persecution will soon end. My church is very close to here, and we support you.”

There were also many Chinese people at the rally site, listening to the speeches and reading the posters. Some of them quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. Ms. Li was one of them, and she said: “This rally is very good, as it helps more people know about what is truly happening in China. I did not know the truth when I was in China. Because of the CCP’s propaganda, I did not even dare to read the Epoch Times. As time went by, I decided to take a look. Since then, I read it every week and have learned so much.”

Ms. Zhang said that propaganda in China is the opposite to what she reads and hears in Australia. When she just came here, she still believed in the CCP. However, she gradually realized that all those were fabricated lies. “What the CCP did to Falun Gong is the same as what it did in every political campaign in its history,” Zhang said.

The march started at the City Plaza, via Swanston Street and Chinatown, and went back to the plaza. Practitioners displayed many eye-catching banners with clear messages, such as: “The 12Year Killing and Torture of Falun Gong Must End”and “Heaven to Disintegrate the CCP”.

On the evening of July 20, Melbourne practitioners gathered outside the Chinese Consulate for a candlelight vigil to commemorate the over 3,400 Chinese practitioners who were persecuted to death by the CCP, and to appeal for support to end the persecution.

Practitioner Zhu is a volunteer of the Melbourne Quitting CCP Service Center and she comes to the candlelight vigil at the Consulate every July 20. She said: “Falun Gong has been persecuted for 12 years in China and we will protest till it ends.”

Since 2005, Zhu has helped over 14,000 Chinese people quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. “I go out to clarify the truth about Falun Gong almost every day, and I call China to tell people about Falun Gong as well. As more and more people have come to understand the evil nature of the CCP, it is becoming easier to help people to quit. Sometime I can help over 60 people quit the CCP in one single day.”

A Chinese student also participated in the vigil, and she said: “I started to practice Falun Gong with my mom when I was young, and so did my younger brother. Since I started to read Zhuan Falun I have tried to behave accordingly. I never knowingly did any bad things, and my parents never had to worry about me. Because Zhuan Falun states that a practitioner needs to be a good person, I always respect my parents. When the persecution started in 1999, I was only 11. When I was in middle school, my mom was arrested. It feels great to be able to practice Falun Gong openly here.”