(Minghui.org) “Today marks a very dark day—but there is hope. Because this is a battle of good versus evil,” MP Michael Cooper said.

On July 20th, 2024, Falun Gong (Falun Dafa) practitioners in Edmonton, Canada, commemorated the 25th anniversary of the persecution of Falun Gong. MP Michael Cooper said that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance will ultimately triumph over evil.

The gathering took place at the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market. A spokesperson from the Edmonton Falun Dafa Association explained that on July 20th, twenty-five years ago, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began a brutal persecution of millions of Falun Gong practitioners. “Imprisonment, torture, murder, and organ harvesting—legal experts and human rights advocates condemn the CCP for committing crimes against humanity and genocide against Falun Gong practitioners.”

On July 20th, 2024, practitioners in Edmonton gathered to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the persecution. MP Michael Cooper (center) gave a speech.

MP Michael Cooper stated that the justice of Falun Gong will ultimately triumph over the evil of the CCP.

Falun Gong practitioners do the exercises.

A practitioner speaks out against the persecution by the CCP.

Passersby signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution in support.

MP: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Will Prevail Over Evil

MP Michael Cooper, Member of Parliament for St. Albert, Edmonton, addressed the human rights abuses faced by Falun Gong practitioners under the Chinese communist regime:

“On behalf of my colleagues, I express our solidarity with Falun Gong practitioners who, as we speak, are being subjected to gross human rights violations perpetrated by the communist regime.”

He highlighted the significance of July 20th, which marks, “The very day that Jiang Zemin and the CCP launched what amounts to a genocidal campaign to eliminate Falun Gong.” Cooper emphasized the severe suffering endured by Falun Gong practitioners over the past 25 years, including “imprisonment, torture and extrajudicial killings,” and noted that millions have been persecuted by the regime.

“The crimes perpetrated by the communist regime against Falun Gong practitioners amount to some of the most egregious human rights violations, as well as an attack on religious freedom. They amount to crimes against humanity,” Cooper said, stressing that these actions are “blatant violations of the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights, specifically Section 3 and Section 4.”

MP Cooper called for continued vigilance and action, “We must not be silent. We must speak up, and we must shine a light on these abuses because Falun Gong practitioners are being targeted because they stand behind the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.”

He commended recent legislative efforts, noting progress such as the U.S. House of Representatives passing the Falun Gong Protection Act and Canada’s Parliament passing Bill S223. Cooper highlighted the importance of this bill, which “amends the criminal code with respect to trafficking in human organs, as well as amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, to bar foreign nationals and permanent residents from entering Canada who have engaged in these crimes.”

Despite this progress, MP Cooper underscored that this is, “just a start.” He called for further action to end the regime’s impunity, asserting, “The impunity of the Chinese communist regime needs to end. It needs to end now!” He vowed to work with colleagues to press the Canadian government to utilize the tools provided by Bill S223 and collaborate with allies to impose targeted sanctions and deny visas to violators of human rights.

In closing, MP Cooper framed the issue as a battle of good versus evil, stating, “We are facing an evil communist regime versus Falun Dafa. Falun Dafa works for good. I am confident that in the end, the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance will prevail over evil.”

He concluded on a hopeful note, acknowledging the significance of the day while emphasizing the ongoing struggle for justice.

Falun Gong Practitioners Share Personal Persecution Experiences

During the gathering, two practitioners recounted their experiences of being persecuted in China.

Xue Fei from Fushun City, Liaoning Province, said that in mid-October 2010, he was sent to the Luohutai Brainwashing Center in Fushun for practicing Falun Gong.

“I was forced to watch videos that slandered Falun Gong with about 30 other detained practitioners, and we were not allowed to talk to each other,” he said. "I was monitored 24 hours a day, even while I was sleeping, eating, and using the restroom. Every day, someone pressured me to sign guarantee statements to give up the practice. They often threatened me, and said they would harm my family.”

The brainwashing session lasted for a month. Afterward, Xue Fei learned, “This brainwashing center received 10,000 yuan from the local Political and Legal Affairs Committee for each practitioner it took in.”

Jiang Hong from Chongqing shared that she, along with her parents, brother, and two sisters, were all persecuted for practicing Falun Gong.

On October 25th, 2000, she was detained in the Jiangjin District Detention Center in Chongqing. “The police put heavy shackles on my feet and handcuffs on my wrists, with my hands tightly cuffed behind my back and chained to the shackles. Within 24 hours, my hands were swollen, and a few days later, the skin on my wrists became ulcerated.” She was later sentenced to three years in prison.

In 2008, Jiang Hong’s father was sent to the Xishanping Labor Camp in Chongqing for a year. On January 28th, 2009, Jiang Hong and her family were notified by the labor camp that her father had died. They saw his body at the funeral home that night.

“When I touched his face, I found the area above his lips was still warm. I shouted that my father was still alive!” she said. “My brother pulled my father halfway out of the freezer and found that his chest was also warm.” However, the police forcibly pulled them away, and their father was quickly cremated.

Jiang Hong’s mother was sentenced to eight years in prison, her brother was sentenced to three years in a labor camp, her third sister was detained in a brainwashing center, and her fourth sister was repeatedly imprisoned.

Passerby: The CCP Is a Tumor That Must Be Quickly Removed

Falun Gong practitioners demonstrated their exercises at the gathering and handed out flyers. Many passersby signed a petition calling for an end to the persecution.

Joe Sellitz commended them and encouraged their efforts. He said, “Falun Gong practitioners have been persecuted for twenty-five years. How can you persecute someone just for doing exercises? How can you persecute people for qualities like tolerance, understanding, and kindness, which are the most beautiful qualities? The CCP must be insane!”

He continued, “The CCP is truly crazy. Its soul is sick, and it has instilled this sickness into three generations of Chinese people. It poisons the world with an extremely disturbing mindset. This is a tumor that needs to be quickly removed.”