Montreal, Canada: Peaceful Protest in Front of Chinese Consulate Commemorates the 26th Anniversary of the April 25 Appeal

(Minghui.org) Local practitioners held a protest in front of the Chinese Consulate in Montreal on April 22, 2025 to commemorate the 26^th anniversary of the April 25 Appeal. They called for an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) brutal persecution of Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa).

Rally in front of the Chinese Consulate in Montreal to commemorate the 26^th anniversary of the April 25 Appeal

During the rally, Lorna said that she went to the Chinese Embassy to appeal for Falun Gong on April 25, 1999. She heard that practitioners in Tianjin were arrested, so she went to the embassy with other practitioners by bus from Montreal to Ottawa, with the simple thought to let the Chinese government learn about Falun Gong.

Lorna said that she had practiced for less than a year at that time. Before she began practicing, she suffered from psychological pressure and insomnia due to family conflicts, work and study. After she began practicing, the principles of Falun Gong made her open-minded and healthy. She knew Falun Dafa was good, and felt she should talk to Chinese officials.

The embassy counselor who received them at that time said that practicing Falun Gong is a good thing to exercise the body, but he didn’t know what was happening in China. He happily accepted the book Falun Gong and said he would read it. If it was good, he would also practice it. The meeting ended in a harmonious atmosphere. However, three months later, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a brutal persecution of Falun Gong.

Lorna said that for 26 years, Falun Gong practitioners in China have been brutally persecuted, and even subjected to the CCP-sanctioned forced organ harvesting. Practitioners have always protested the persecution peacefully and rationally, which is itself a manifestation of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. She said, “The CCP does not allow people to speak. Every suppression campaign has been based on lies and slander. Falun Gong practitioners stand up and speak the truth based on their conscience. They want to let the deceived Chinese people know the truth, including those who work in the embassy.”

Support from Passers-by

Passersby stopped to watch the rally, and some asked practitioners why it was held. Many people signed the petition to express their support.

Local resident Sharon Brien supports practitioners.

Sharon Brien said she was moved when she saw Falun Gong practitioners protesting at the Chinese Consulate. She said that she knew about the CCP’s persecution. “You are very brave, and your protest is peaceful,” she said.

Pointing to a banner that exposed the CCP’s forced organ harvesting, she said, “This is really heartbreaking. People should not remain silent in the face of such things.” When she learned that practitioners would hold a march to commemorate the April 25 appeal on the weekend, she said she would watch it and tell her friends and family about it.

Michael Konoval said the CCP is completely opposite of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, “The CCP lies and is dishonest. They are not kind and have no compassion. They are intolerant of everyone. There is nothing Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance about the CCP.”

He said he was sad when he learned about the CCP’s forced organ harvesting, “I knew they were persecuting practitioners, but I didn’t know about the forced organ harvesting until now. It’s horrible. It’s on such a large scale. It’s an organized crime.” He repeatedly told the practitioners, “I support you!”