Santa Monica Beach, Los Angeles: Exercise Demonstration and Rally Calls for an End to the Persecution

(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners from the Greater Los Angeles area gathered at Santa Monica Beach to hold a series of activities on July 17, 2022. The day started with a large scale group exercise demonstration displaying the beauty of Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa). This was followed by a rally exposing the persecution of Falun Dafa and calling on the public to help bring an end to the persecution.

A Falun Gong exercise demonstration at Santa Monica Beach on July 17 starts off a series of activities to call for an end to the 23-year-long persecution in China.

That day practitioners also held up banners in English and Chinese along Ocean Avenue. The banners were emblazoned with, “Immediately Release Jailed Falun Gong practitioners in China,” “Stop Persecution of Falun Gong in China,” and “Bring Jiang Zemin to Justice.” More than 1,200 people signed the “End the CCP” (Chinese Communist Party) petition, and many motorists honked their horns to show their support for Falun Gong.

Wall of banners along Ocean Avenue

The CCP’s Persecution of Falun Gong Will End with the CCP 

Ke Ye, PhD in Public Policy at the University of Southern California

Ke Ye, representing attending Falun Gong practitioners, spoke at the rally. He said that Falun Gong practitioners were not only defending their personal rights, but also safeguarding human rights and universal values. This is done peacefully for a world where everyone can enjoy human rights, freedom, and dignity. 

“At first Jiang Zemin [then leader of the CCP] wanted to eliminate Falun Gong within three months. However, 23 years have passed, and Falun Gong is still going strong. This persecution cannot go on forever. The CCP will overthrow itself in the end,” Ye said.

Ye also appealed to world leaders, current CCP leaders, the media, social media, and the general public to help stop this persecution immediately.

Hui Li, from Fushun, Liaoning Province, recounts the imprisonment, forced labor and tortures she was subjected to in China.

Hui Li, a Falun Gong practitioner from Fushun, Liaoning Province, recounted her experience of being arrested and jailed in forced labor camps in China many times because of her practice of Falun Gong. 

Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting: We Must Stop the CCP’s Crimes Against Humanity as Soon as Possible 

Representative from Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting, Dana Churchhill, M.D., speaks at the rally.

Dr. Dana Churchill, a representative for Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH), pointed out that the International Organization for Investigating the Persecution of Falun Gong had conducted a large number of telephone investigations. The resulting evidence shows that the order to harvest organs of Falun Gong practitioners was given by Jiang Zemin and carried out by the Chinese Communist Party.

“This has been happening in China for more than two decades. It is a heinous crime against humanity that must be stopped as soon as possible. It not only kills victims in a cruel and inhumane way, but also causes serious harm to the medical field and US medical institutions,” Dr. Churchill added.

Shuren Guo, political commentator, addresses the rally.

Shuren Guo, a Southern California political commentator, said, “Falun Gong practitioners who have been persecuted to death will not have sacrificed in vain. The CCP will pay an unimaginable price for this persecution. This is Heaven’s Way.” 

Jie Lijian, CEO of the China Democracy Party Youth Department, speaks at the rally: “Falun Gong practitioners fighting against the persecution and exposing the evil spirit of the CCP is what I admire the most.”