(Minghui.org) An event marking the 27th anniversary of the start of the persecution of Falun Dafa in China took place in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.

The event lasted around three hours. Practitioners dressed in white—symbolizing mourning and solemnity—demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises. Some of the practitioners also sat in pairs in the lotus position throughout, holding portraits of fellow practitioners who died in China as a result of the persecution.

Several practitioners handed out leaflets to passersby, urging them to learn about the gross human rights violations in China. An audio recording explaining Falun Dafa and the persecution in China was played continuously over a loudspeaker.

For more than 20 years practitioners have been holding similar events in Kyiv to mark July 20 (the day the persecution began). Before the war, it was usually held on a large scale opposite the Chinese Embassy. Now, however, it takes place on the city’s main street, across from the City Hall building, as the Chinese embassy in Kyiv is closed.

Practitioners said the atmosphere at the event was solemn, and it touched the hearts of passersby. After listening to the practitioners’ accounts of what is happening in China, many signed a petition calling for an end to the persecution.

Practitioners held a peaceful protest in Kyiv on the 27th anniversary of the beginning of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of their faith. (Minghui.org)

Young People Express Sympathy for Persecuted Practitioners

Two young women were particularly moved by the practitioners’ demonstration. They signed the petition with tears in their eyes. They were shocked to learn that such crimes against humanity were taking place in this day and age. They were given lotus flowers which had tags with information about Falun Dafa. They immediately attached them to their bags and said they would always carry them with them.

A group of teenage boys was also moved by the seriousness of the practitioners’ event, and said that the Chinese Communist Party was committing a great evil by persecuting such good people as Falun Dafa practitioners. They also thanked the practitioners for spreading this information.

Several groups of school-age teenagers listened to the practitioners for a long time, and seemed reluctant to leave.

Young people learned about the persecution and signed a petition. (Minghui.org)

Man is Moved by Falun Dafa’s Guiding Principles

A young man listened to an elderly practitioner’s account of Falun Dafa and its principles—Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance—and was initially skeptical about the information. He said he might believe it only if he were uneducated. The practitioner replied that whether to believe or not was a matter of his own enlightenment, not the amount of knowledge he had acquired. The man was moved by these words, and for a while he stood there in surprise and deep thought. He eventually said that deep down, he actually believed in these principles, but the education system had taught him otherwise. In the end, he thanked the practitioner for giving him food for thought.

Practitioners Explain Why They Participate

Karolina, who has practiced Falun Dafa for over 20 years, holds portraits of practitioners who died every year at the event.

She said that she has benefited enormously from Falun Dafa and is able to practice freely in her country. In China, practitioners are denied this opportunity, and she wants to speak out on their behalf against the injustice of the repression.

“I’m raising awareness of this issue amongst Ukrainians so that everyone can do their bit, including sign the petition, tell their loved ones about this tragedy, and not remain indifferent. I believe that caring is the most valuable thing. Freedom is a gift from above, and if we have it, we should cherish it and help to defend it, even in China,” said Karolina.

Кarolina held portraits of Falun Dafa practitioners who died as a result of repression in China. (Minghui.org)

Gennady is a former soldier and has practiced Falun Dafa for over 10 years. He coordinates one of Kyiv’s practice sites five days a week.

He also hands out leaflets containing information about the persecution in China to everyone he meets. Gennady says that Ukrainians, who have experienced the evil of the communist regime first-hand, usually understand the reason behind this persecution, and respond from the heart.

“Jiang Zemin, the former general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, was jealous of Falun Dafa because in 1999 [the year the persecution began] the Chinese Communist Party had around 60 million members, whereas over 100 million people were practicing Falun Dafa, and they were kind and good people. So ССP began persecuting these innocent people and sending them to concentration camps,” Gennady said.

Gennady

Oksana attended the event with her two daughters, who also practice Falun Dafa. Oksana has practiced for more than 20 years. She has participated in activities calling for an end to the persecution in China since she began practicing.

She said that practitioners in Kyiv hold these events despite the war and in all weather, as it is a matter of conscience for them.

“As Falun Dafa practitioners, we have a duty to tell Ukrainians how people in China are treated, simply for wanting to be healthy and kind,” Oksana said.

Oksana and her eldest daughter meditated during the event. (Minghui.org)

Denis has also practiced for more than 20 years. He said that history is full of examples of people who were persecuted for their faith, including Christians, who were persecuted for 300 years.

“Over time, this led to the downfall of entire civilizations, entire empires,” Denis said. “Today, history is repeating itself. Through this peaceful reminder, this peaceful protest, we want to show that the strength of the spirit and the strength of faith can overcome evil and hatred.”

Denis did the second Falun Dafa exercise during the event. (Minghui.org)