(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners from Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts participated in the annual Columbus Day Parade in the City of Providence’s historic and traditionally Italian Federal Hill neighborhood on October 13.

The parade celebrates Christopher Columbus’ contribution to history, as well as the rich history of Italian Americans in Rhode Island.

A waist drum team from Boston participated, and local practitioners displayed banners introducing Falun Dafa. Many people were pleased to receive flyers, and after learning more about Dafa and the persecution in China, many signed the petition calling for an end to the Chinese Communist Party's forced organ harvesting of persecuted Dafa practitioners.

Many spectators had positive and encouraging words to share about the Falun Dafa entry and about Dafa's principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

The organizer of the parade said that he welcomes all groups from the community to participate in the parade. He also said to the local coordinator of the Falun Gong group, “I want your group to come to this parade every year without question. What you people represent is beautiful and it is what this event is about and what people need today.”