(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners from central Japan held activities at Sakae, Nagoya's city center, to commemorate a historic appeal by practitioners in China 22 years ago.

April 25, 1999, is a significant date for both China and Falun Dafa practitioners. On that day, approximately 10,000 practitioners traveled to Beijing to peacefully appeal to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s leadership after practitioners in Tianjin were illegally arrested. The Tianjin practitioners were released following the appeal, but three months later on July 20, 1999, CCP leader Jiang Zemin launched a nationwide persecution campaign against Falun Dafa that continues to this day.

In Nagoya, Falun Dafa practitioners demonstrated the exercises, introduced Falun Dafa to the public, and collected signatures on a petition to condemn the persecution and bring former CCP leader Jiang Zemin to justice.

Practitioners demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises near the fountain in Sakae, Nagoya's city center, on April 18, 2021.

Passersby sign a petition to bring former CCP leader Jiang Zemin to justice.

Passersby read display boards introducing Falun Dafa.

Local resident Mr. Kato spoke with a practitioner at length and condemned the CCP's evil nature and its brutal persecution of Chinese people. Mr. Kato signed the petition and said, “I hate the Chinese Communist Party. Just look how pitiful those people in Hong Kong are now!”

A young man carrying photography equipment stopped to talk with practitioners in the afternoon. He could speak some Chinese and asked a practitioner what the event was about, as he had noticed practitioners’ activities many times. After hearing details about the persecution in China, he said the CCP was “frightening.”

It rained in the afternoon and the temperature dropped quickly. While practitioner Duy was covering up the banners and display boards, a young man stopped to read them and talked with Duy. He signed the petition and later returned with three friends, who also signed it. He handed Duy a hot coffee and said, “You’ve worked hard. Keep it up!”