A Summary: "7.20" Anniversary Commemorative Activities in Washington DC

On July 20th and 21st, 2000, roughly five hundred Falun Dafa practitioners gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the crackdown on Falun Dafa in China. Practitioners did their exercises and distributed information to those passing by. Over a dozen banners were displayed adjacent to the Embassy and along nearby streets. Lining the streets were poster boards with Falun Dafa introductory materials and pictures exposing the brutality of the Chinese Government's suppression. Many passers-by waved and honked to us in expression of their support. Hundreds of cars stopped and took literature. Several reporters and television stations, including CNN and CBS came by to interview practitioners and shoot footage of the striking event. One reporter remarked, "What China's doing is so hard to believe. How can they justify doing that?!" Many non-practitioners were able to obtain a better understanding of the situation.

Practitioners wore yellow ribbons in memory of the Chinese practitioners who have died due to the persecution.

A Falun Gong press conference was held in D.C.'s Hilton Hotel on the afternoon of July 20th. "Falun Gong: The Real Story 2", a documentary reviewing the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China and responses from the international community over the past year, was shown during the press conference.

On the morning of July 21, 2000, another group of some roughly four hundred practitioners gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial to introduce Dafa to the public. Practitioners took turns demonstrating Dafa's exercises. Prominently displayed golden-yellow banners with red characters reading "Falun Dafa" and "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" proved both eye-catching and beautiful in the sun. Many tourists asked for Dafa information materials and showed their concern over the current situation in China.

On both evenings, practitioners held candle light vigils in front of the Chinese Embassy, honoring the memory of our fellow practitioners in China who have passed away protecting the Fa. Hundreds of candles were lit and placed along several streets, including the main streets adjacent to the Embassy. Practitioners sat quietly behind the candles and Dafa music was in the air. At the very end of the vigil, a few gentle drops of rain came down, having a magical effect. One elderly, veteran practitioner from China remarked that "The sky is mourning for those practitioners who have died for Dafa."

On July 22, 2000, a solemn Falun Dafa cultivation experience-sharing conference took place in the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center of Washington, D.C. Over one thousand practitioners from nearly ten countries, including Canada, Singapore, Australia, Japan, France, Taiwan, attended the conference.

Since the number of the attendees far exceeded the estimated eight hundred people, the conference room was not large enough to seat everybody. The conference center staff members were very friendly and offered timely help. They quickly moved away the mobile walls in the conference hall to expand the room, and then brought in extra chairs. People attending the conference were very cooperative despite the unexpected inconveniences. The conference started without too much delay.

Over a dozen practitioners share their cultivation experiences during the conference. Among them were: practitioners from China who were arrested for making appeals to the Chinese Government; a little 6-year-old disciple who has practiced for three years; a 75-year-old practitioner; and an elite scientist who has made some breakthroughs in the scientific validation of Dafa. Their experiences touched all conference attendees.

Near the end of the conference, a video clip of Master Li's lecture at last year's New York conference was played. Watching Master Li's lecture again after one year, many practitioners gained a heightened understanding of the Fa and felt more deeply the great compassion of our teacher.

Later in the evening, practitioners had free-form group discussions. The discussions filled the conference hall and continued until 11pm.

On Sunday, July 23rd, nearly one thousand practitioners gathered at the Mall for group exercises, filling several blocks worth of green. An incredible aura of serenity radiated throughout the Mall as practitioners gracefully went through two hours of exercises and meditation. Later in the morning, practitioners turned their attention to further experience sharing and to introducing Dafa to the public. Beautiful, large banners were once again displayed, along with several poster boards documenting torture in China. Hundreds of visitors to the Mall took information and expressed deep sympathy and concern for the situation in China. A number of people were sincerely interested in learning Dafa, with some even asking to be taught the exercises right there on the spot; a young man from Mexico who had never heard of Dafa before was one touching example.