(Minghui.org) On May 12, 2012, hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners held activities in Manhattan's Times Square, celebrating World Falun Dafa Day and sharing the beauty of Falun Dafa with the public.

Practitioners demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises in the morning. At 3:30 p.m., performances started, including singing, dancing, instruments, and martial arts. The Divine Land Marching Band played the song, “Falun Dafa is good” at the end.

Group exercises in the morning

The Divine Land Marching Band

Performances

During the celebration, practitioners shared with the public how they have benefited, both physically and mentally, from practicing Falun Gong. Eight U.S. congressmen and senators sent congratulatory letters to the celebration. Mayors of more than ten cities in New Jersey and several New Jersey state senators also sent their greetings. Mr. Eric Stevenson, a New York state congressman, came to the event. He expressed his support for Falun Gong, and urged President Obama to take quick action to help stop the persecution in China. At the end of his speech, he shouted in Chinese, “Falun Dafa is good.”

Eric Stevenson, a New York State congressman, shouted in Chinese, “Falun Dafa is good.”

Zhang Erping, spokesperson for Falun Gong

Zhang Erping, a spokesperson for Falun Gong, briefly introduced Falun Gong to the public. He said, “If you want to know more about it, please visit the website www.faluninfo.org.”

Martins Rubenis, the bronze medal winner in the men's singles luge in the 2006 Winter Olympic from Latvia, told people why he came to this event. He said that before he came, his friends asked why he was going to New York. “I am going to visit my friends there.” “Do you have friends in New York?” “Yes, I have friends all over the world.” “How many?” “Countless. Many people practice Falun Gong all over the world.”

He said that he came here to tell people how he has benefited from Falun Gong, and how much he is grateful to Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong.

Kate and Kay, two Australian practitioners, went to China in 2001 to appeal for Falun Gong with 34 other Western Falun Gong practitioners. Today, they sang a song calling for the end of the persecution.

Kate told the audience about the brutal persecution. She also told her experiences of appealing for Falun Gong in China. Their stories touched the audience.

The audience

Lebill passed by the performance. He stopped, listening to practitioners.

Many tourists were attracted to the performances. They took pictures and videos, read the truth-clarifying materials, talked to practitioners, and sang along with the performers.