(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners were once again invited to participate in celebrating St. John the Baptist Day (or Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day) on June 24, 2022, one of the most important holidays in Quebec. They joined the parade in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

Practitioners participate in the parade held in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec on June 24, 2022.

Salaberry-de-Valleyfield is located 60 kilometers (approximately 37 miles) west of Montreal. It is a scenic waterfront city and a popular tourist and holiday destination. The annual St. John the Baptist Day parade has been held for more than 100 years since 1909.

The Tian Guo Marching Band members dressed in blue and white Tang Dynasty costumes playing uplifting music were well received by the audience. Many people said the drums and trumpets sounded majestic and impressive. Practitioners wearing yellow outfits and demonstrating the exercises followed the band. Spectators along the way kept applauding and cheering. Some danced to the rhythm of the music while others imitated the exercise movements.

Falun Dafa practitioners were warmly welcomed

Most events were canceled for two years due to the pandemic, so people were excited to see the Tian Guo Marching Band again. Catherine, a local resident, said, “It’s really great. They’re unique. We haven’t seen them for two years so it’s great to see them again. My daughter got a little gift (A lotus flower pendant with the words “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance”). She is very happy.”

Sebastian said, “They perform very well. The music is beautiful. I know about Falun Dafa and I think practitioners are great. They don’t compromise while facing the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution. They dare to stand up to totalitarianism, which is very good.”

Ms. Letiecq, who saw the band for the first time, said, “They (the Tian Guo Marching Band) are the best and the music is great! The energy they emit is beautiful and soothing. Congratulations to them.”

Background: What Is Falun Dafa and Why Is the CCP persecuting It?

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings, which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and learned the five exercises, have experienced improved health and well-being.

Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline’s growing popularity as a threat to the CCP’s atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, issued an order to ban the practice.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 23 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. More have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.

There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply the organ transplant industry.

Under Jiang’s personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.