(Minghui.org) “The persecution of a righteous belief will never succeed. Justice always conquers evil,” said a Falun Gong practitioner during a rally speech in front of the Chinese Embassy in London last weekend.
On April 25, 1999 over 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners gathered in front of the central Chinese government complex in Beijing to protest the illegal arrests of a group of practitioners in the neighboring city of Tianjin. A few months later the then head of the Chinese Communist regime, Jiang Zemin, launched the nationwide persecution of Falun Gong, a mind and body practice that was taught to the public in 1992.
To commemorate this historic peaceful appeal, on the morning of April 22, 2018, Falun Gong practitioners in London held a rally and march, raising awareness about the practice and the persecution, which continues today in China.
UK Falun Gong practitioners hold a press conference in front of the Chinese Embassy in London in memory of the peaceful protest 19 years ago.
Members of Parliament and Friends of Falun Gong Demand an End to Persecution
John Dee, deputy chair of European Friends of Falun Gong, spoke at the press conference. “In the 19 years of persecution, the CCP has used the cruelest tortures on the practitioners in attempt to force them to abandon their beliefs,” said Dee. “We call for an immediate end to the persecution and for the culprits who committed these enormous crimes to be tried.”
Letters of support for this event and for ending the persecution of Falun Gong came from Gerard Batten, member of European Parliament; Seb Dance, MEP; James Carver, MEP; Jim Shannon, MP; and Jim Fitzpatrick, MP.
March and Rally Draw Support
Following the press conference participants marched in downtown London. The parade ended at Trafalgar square, where the practitioners later held a rally, demonstrated the exercises and held a petition drive.
The parade on April 22, 2018, goes through BBC Headquarters, Oxford Street, business area and China Town.
Nicolo, an Italian teacher, came to the press conference with his wife. Nicolo first learned about the peaceful protest in 1999 from last year’s march and rally. “The persecution in China must end,” said Nicolo.
Retired Italian teacher, Nicolo, and his wife at the press conference in front of the Chinese Embassy.
Robert from Sweden ran into the parade in Chinatown. He was appalled by the atrocities against practitioners in China. “Killing people for their organs is terrible and must be stopped,” he said.
Robert from Sweden sees the parade in Chinatown and learns about the persecution of Falun Gong in China.
Along the parade route the practitioners give out fliers and tell the spectators about the persecution in China.
Falun Gong practitioners hold a rally, demonstrate the exercises, tell people about the persecution and collect signatures at Trafalgar square.
Memories of the Peaceful Protest 19 Years Ago
Dr. Xie Weiguo was among the 10,000-plus who appealed to the Chinese government in Beijing 19 years ago, simply seeking a peaceful and free environment to practice. “We have done things according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in the past 19 years. More and more people of the world have seen that the persecution is unjustified.”
Dr. Xie Weiguo and John Dee at the parade in London on April 22, 2018.
“I travelled to Beijing with a group of about 20 practitioners. We took the red-eye train and arrived early on April 25,” said Ms. Yang, who currently lives in Cambridge. “As soon as we heard that the premier Zhu Rongji agreed to our terms, we left quietly,” she said. Ms. Yang had just become a practitioner at that time and was very impressed with how the practitioners behaved that day. “There were practitioners everywhere on both sides of the street and yet it was so quiet, to a point that it was hard to believe. The practitioners even picked up litter from the ground, leaving the area cleaner than before we came.”
Ms. Yang vividly recalls the April 25 Appeal, which she participated in 19 years ago.
“Free My Mum”
Xiaotong, a practitioner who participated in the rally, called on the public to help with the rescue of her mother. Her mother, Ms. Wang Yujue from Taikang County, Henan Province, was incarcerated for her belief in Falun Gong a few months ago.
A large cage re-enacts the persecution, drawing attention from passersby
While sitting in a cage to re-enact the abuses against practitioners in China, Xiaotong held a poster that said “Free My Mum, Illegally Detained since January.” Her mother has been incarcerated six times for a total of ten years since the persecution began in 1999. She lost her job and their home was many times ransacked by the authorities.
Many passersby approached Xiaotong to show their support, listening to her story and offering words of comfort.
A music producer shows support for the rescue of Xiaotong's mother.
A chef stops to learn Xiaotong's story and express support.
Category: April 25 Events
