(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Gong practitioners and supporting organizations in Hong Kong held a rally and march marking the twelfth anniversary of Falun Gong's anti-persecution journey on July 24, 2011. The activities called for the disintegration of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and an end to the persecution of Falun Gong, along with support for the 99 million people who have quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. Members of the Legislative Council and celebrities spoke at the rally, condemning the CCP for its brutal persecution of Falun Gong and calling for all circles of society to work together to bring an end to the persecution.
The Divine Land Marching Band heads the marching procession to Canton Road. Spectators fill the street and take pictures of the march.
Many are attracted to watch the march when the procession passes Kowloon
The Divine Land Marching Band performs at the rally
Banners and posters in the march procession
Spectators take pictures and videos of the march
A banner states, “Quitting the CCP is a Step Toward Disintegrating the CCP”
The anti-persecution march started at 2:00 in the afternoon. The Divine Land Marching Band headed the neatly-aligned procession. Banners, flags, and drum troupes followed. The march passed major streets of Kowloon, and a large number of residents and tourists stopped to watch. Tourists from China took pictures and video of the march and said they would take them to their friends. Some of them cried in excitement, “Falun Gong's march!” “There is freedom in Hong Kong!” “Look, the police officers head their procession!” Some tourists said they were very happy to learn facts of Falun Gong in Hong Kong. It helped them see through the CCP lies.
A college student from China was very shaken by this scene. He said, “The propaganda in China said Falun Gong was an evil cult. We are afraid to hear the words 'Falun Gong' and associate it with self-immolation and other bad things. When I come to Hong Kong, I feel differently from what we heard in China. I suspect our government has deceived us on purpose... After coming here, I began thinking that our education and everything we have heard in our lives has been false. Our government always ties the party with the country. Being against the party seems to mean being against the country. It isn't like this actually. Being against the party doesn't mean not loving the country. As a matter of fact, being against the party better represents our love of the country, because the party can't establish a democratic and clean government.” He felt fortunate to have come to Hong Kong and learn the true story. He was saddened that most people in China are still deceived.
A woman tourist from China said this was her first time coming to Hong Kong. She was greatly shaken to see Falun Gong's march. She said it would be impossible to imagine in China. Some tourists said the waist drum playing was their favorite. A Hong Kong resident said, “Falun Gong promotes compassion. I support their campaign to end the persecution.”
A tourist couple admired the freedom in Hong Kong. The husband said the suppression of Falun Gong in China was still very severe. Many Falun Gong practitioners in his area had been arrested. He said, “Words related to Falun Gong are forbidden, much less practicing Falun Gong.”
A young couple from China said that their parents practiced Falun Gong before the persecution, but were forced to give up under high pressure. The man said he worked in a government institution. Even those who read Falun Gong truth-clarification materials, if found, would be isolated, monitored, and faced with loss of some benefits. Much less to say for those who practice Falun Gong.”
Prior to the march, a rally was held around noon. Many supporters attended the rally despite the heat. Some human rights activists in China expressed their support through prerecorded video and audio.
Yuet Mee Audrey Eu, a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and former leader of the Civic Party, said, “I admire Falun Gong and Falun Gong practitioners for their peacefulness, tolerance and compassion.” Ms. Eu had heard from human rights lawyers in China about the brutal persecution and how hard it was to defend Falun Gong practitioners' innocence. She said, “I salute Falun Gong practitioners and the lawyers defending them!”
Democratic Party and Legislative Council member Wong Sing-chi condemned the CCP for its persecution, “It is dictatorship. In the mean time, it has utterly abandoned the universal values of the entire world.” He stressed that the dictatorship wouldn't last long, and praised Falun Gong practitioners' steadfastness. “I really appreciate their steadfastness and firmness on their principles, and their perseverance on their work to reach their goal.”
Mr. Tsai Yaowah, vice president of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China (HKASPDMC), criticized the CCP for its brutal persecution over the past twelve years, which was against the law. He said, “What the CCP did to Falun Gong followers, their supporters, and lawyers were serious violations of international human rights conventions and its own constitution.” He pointed out people's freedom of belief, assembly, and speech was completely deprived under the CCP autocracy. He called for all human rights organizations in China and overseas to unite in stopping the persecution.
Theresa Chu, spokesperson for the Falun Gong Human Rights Lawyers Working Group in Taiwan, said the evil CCP wants to destroy not only Falun Gong, but also all lives. She hopes that all Chinese will see it clearly.
Former Legislative Council member and priest Fung Chi-wood said he was moved by the compassion of Falun Gong practitioners. Their promotion of quitting the CCP has made close to 100 million people quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. He said, “For someone like me, who didn't have huge confidence at the beginning, 100 million was hard to imagine. But just like truth, no one can deny such a fact.” He thanked Falun Gong practitioners for spreading the seeds of compassion. “Your steadfastness and endurance has gained mighty virtue. The world and all the world's people will never forget your sacrifices.”
Chui Pak Tai, Wong Tai Sin District Council member, said, “Facing serious persecution, they remain compassionate. We believe it is a power from the bottom of their hearts. The evil will eventually lose to the righteous.”
Several celebrities in China condemned the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong through audio recordings.
Gao Yu, senior reporter and two-time recipient of the Courage in Journalism Award, said, “Falun Gong has made unremitting efforts to stop the persecution during the past twelve years. Their fight for their human rights is a heroic deed.”
Huang Qi, a renowned Chinese webmaster and human rights activist who was just released from prison last month, gave a speech through audio recording. He was the first to report Falun Gong practitioner Chen Zixiu's death at his 64tianwang.com website in June, 2000. It was the first website closed by the CCP for reporting Falun Gong related news. He was thrown into prison twice for eight years total. Mr. Huang holds no regret for standing together with Falun Gong practitioners. He said, “When Falun Gong practitioners were persecuted, when Falun Gong practitioner Chen Zixiu lost her life, we had to step out. Even though stepping out for them put my family and me in a miserable situation, I have never regretted appealing for Falun Gong practitioners. I'm still very proud of my choice! Eventually we and our Falun Gong practitioner friends will live in a democratic China, with safeguarded human rights, free of fear!”
Sun Wenguang, a retired professor from Shandong University, mentioned that the Chinese people were gladdened to hear of Jiang Zemin's death. He said, “History will expose and criticize their [persecutor's] crimes. History will bring Jiang to justice and warn them, no matter how high your position is, if you violate human rights and commit crimes, the people will bring you to justice sooner or later.” Professor Sun praised Falun Gong practitioners for clarifying the facts to the Chinese people through various means, including distributing the “Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party” and spreading blocked news through the Internet. He said, “Those who used to misunderstand and doubt Falun Gong have begun to change their views. [Falun Gong practitioners' work] not only freed their own spirit, but also encouraged people around them to safeguard their rights.”
Category: Rallies & Protests
