(Minghui.org) Despite temperatures over 105 F (41 C) in the late afternoon of July 9, 2023, Falun Dafa practitioners in Las Vegas held activities to expose the Chinese Communist Party’s 24 years of brutality against their peaceful cultivation practice. They held a rally and march, an exercise demonstration, and a candlelight vigil on Las Vegas Boulevard. They told people about the persecution in China and commemorated fellow practitioners who lost their lives in the two-decade-long tragedy. 

Former Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Jiang Zemin started the nationwide persecution of Falun Dafa in China on July 20, 1999. Since then, millions of practitioners have been discriminated against and mistreated for their belief in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. According to Minghui.org, at least 4,974 practitioners have lost their lives due to these egregious human rights violations. 

Known for its famous landmarks, Las Vegas Boulevard attracts over 30 million tourists each year. Impressed by the solemn atmosphere of the practitioners’ event, many people stopped to read posters about Falun Dafa and accepted informational materials. Some signed a petition calling to end the persecution in China.

Practitioners marched along Las Vegas Boulevard on July 9, 2023 to raise awareness of the persecution in China.

People learn about Falun Dafa and sign petitions to support practitioners. 

A practitioner tells passersby about the situation in China.

“In the past few decades, the CCP has harmed huge numbers of people in China, including Falun Dafa practitioners,” a practitioner told people passing by. “But practitioners remain determined in their belief, and the benefits of practicing Falun Dafa have drawn people in over 100 countries. When they understand how the CCP is lying to them, more and more Chinese citizens have decided to separate themselves from the communist party.” 

Two tourists from Oklahoma said they enjoyed practitioners’ peaceful exercises and asked to learn the movements. They both said they felt relaxed and refreshed after doing the exercises. 

“My Heart Is Bleeding After Hearing This”

Robert Campbell served in the navy for seven years and is currently working in the construction industry. He talked with practitioners, signed a petition, and accepted a hand-made paper lotus flower. 

A practitioner talked to him about those who died during the 24-year-long disaster, describing how the CCP detains and tortures practitioners for their belief, and even kills them for their organs. 

Mr. Campbell was shocked and said he could not understand how this brutality could occur in today’s society. When the practitioner explained the details of certain persecution cases, Campbell was moved to tears. He said no one should mistreat people for their belief. 

Robert Campbell (right) condemned the persecution of Falun Dafa. 

Mr. Campbell read each poster and banner carefully. During the candlelight vigil, as practitioners held the photos of victims of the persecution, he took pictures of each portrait with his cell phone. Seeing that one girl was only 14 when she died, Campbell was in tears again. “This is horrible! My heart is bleeding after hearing this,” he said. “How could they do this to a 14-year-old?! I will share this information with my friends on social media.”

Mr. Campbell told practitioners that their activity was very important. He thanked them for their courage to uphold their belief in the harsh environment of communist China and for educating the public overseas. He said he would do his best to pass on the information to more people so that the brutality would be exposed. 

Mr. Campbell was glad to hear there was a local practice site. He thanked practitioners again and said he would read more on the Internet, adding that he looked forward to meeting practitioners again at a nearby practice site.

One-Hundred-Percent Support

A couple from Boston, in Las Vegas for an exhibition, talked at length with a practitioner. Afterward, they both signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution in China. 

The couple said they knew about Falun Dafa and that the CCP is vicious. “The CCP is notorious for its human rights violations, including forced organ harvesting,” the husband said. He said that one cannot believe the regime since it always spreads lies. He and his wife both said they know that Falun Dafa is a great practice, and they said they support Dafa practitioners one hundred percent.