(Minghui.org) July 4, 2020, was Americas’ Independence Day, and 244^th birthday. Usually a few million tourists from other parts of the country, as well as from all around the world would come to the capital city to partake in celebration activities. The Tian Guo Marching Band, formed by Falun Dafa practitioners, is one of the highlights of the annual Independence Day parade.

This year Washington D.C. canceled the traditional parade due to coronavirus. However, many Falun Dafa practitioners went to the National Mall in the afternoon to do group exercises, clarify the truth about Dafa, and raise awareness of the ongoing persecution in China. 

Falun Dafa practitioners do the exercises at the National Mall on July 4—America’s Independence Day 

Practitioners tell people about the ongoing persecution of Falun Dafa in China.

Passersby are learning details about Falun Dafa.

Local residents and their families arrived early to watch the fireworks display and a military flyover show. A few of them read the information distributed by practitioners. A man even helped practitioners put up banners.

Ryan Umina is a trial attorney from West Virginia. He and his friends came to the National Mall to exercise in the morning and were drawn to the yellow T-shirts with the words “Falun Dafa is Wonderful, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” that the practitioners were wearing. This was the first time they'd ever heard of Falun Dafa. Ryan asked, “This looks amazing. Can I take a photo?” He and his friends were provided information in greater detail about Falun Dafa, and the persecution.

They were shocked when Ms. Wang Chunrong, a 75-year-old practitioner told them that she was imprisoned for three-and-a-half years, because she refused to give up Falun Dafa. 

Although the traditional Independence Day parade had to be canceled due to the coronavirus epidemic, the organizers came up with a unique way to celebrate the annual occasion. They invited several groups that usually participate in the parade to record a video and put them together for people to watch online. Practitioners from Washington D.C. took the opportunity to showcase the beauty of the spiritual discipline, Falun Dafa, and sent warm greetings for the occasion via the Internet.