(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners held a rally in Römerberg Square in front of the Frankfurt City Hall to celebrate the withdrawal of 400 million Chinese people from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations on August 13, 2022. Two state legislators sent letters of support, and supporters from all walks of life spoke at the rally.

Practitioners and their supporters from all walks of life held a celebratory event in front of Frankfurt City Hall on August 13, 2022. A dragon dance celebrated over 400 million people who quit the CCP. 

As the pandemic gradually subsided in Germany normal life resumed. There was an endless stream of people on Romerberg Square in front of City Hall. Large banners worded “Celebrate 400 Million People Quitting the CCP (organizations)” and “The CCP Is Not Equal to China” were eye-catching, as well as the practitioners in bright yellow t-shirts demonstrating the exercises. Their waist drum team and dragon dance team was met with enthusiastic applause.

Practitioners demonstrate the Falun Dafa exercisesPeople learn about Falun Dafa. People sign the petition calling for an end to the persecution and to support people who’ve withdrawn from the CCP. 

State Legislators Issue Letters of Support

Oliver Stirboeck, Member of the Landtag of Hesse (State Parliament)Karin Müller, Deputy Speaker of the Landtag of Hesse

Karin Müller, Deputy Speaker of the Landtag of Hesse, sent a letter of support, wishing Falun Dafa practitioners a smooth and successful event. She has been following and supporting practitioners in their efforts to expose the persecution for many years. She stated she hopes practitioners maintain their courage and strength as always.

In his letter of support Oliver Stirboeck, Member of the Landtag of Hesse wrote, “When I hear that so many Chinese have withdrawn from the Chinese Communist Party (and other organizations), openly expressing their disapproval of this Party that infringes upon human rights, I am happy. I respect and support such courage.”

Officer of the International Society for Human Rights: If the Past Repeats Itself, We Would Be Condemned by History

Michaela Koller, Director of Religious Affairs of the International Society for Human Rights (IGFM), addressed the rally. 

Michaela Koller, Director of Religious Affairs of IGFM, spoke at the rally. She said, “For decades, International Society for Human Rights has received a wealth of information about serious human rights abuses in China. We are shocked that the persecution in China continues despite warnings from the international community. The representatives of the Chinese (CCP) government respond to the international community’s questions with denial, cover-up, and lies.”

She also said, “In July 1999, the (CCP) began to persecute Falun Gong practitioners who follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. In 2000, a large number of Falun Gong practitioners were arrested. At the same time, the number of organ transplants in China skyrocketed. Later people heard of the appalling, ongoing number of organ transplants in the tens of thousands each year in China, a number impossible to explain by organ donation. Substantial evidence infers state-led live organ harvesting, especially against Falun Gong practitioners. In 2013, the European Union passed a resolution to sternly criticize this.

“Bringing the public’s attention to these (the CCP’s crimes) is the only way to go,” she said. “If the past (German history) repeats itself, we will be condemned by history.”

Congratulating the 400 Million Who Quit the CCP Organizations

Aniessa Andresen, Chairman of the Hongkonger in Deutschland e.V.

Aniessa Andresen, Chairman of the Hongkonger in Deutschland e.V., participated in the rally. She said, “I see that Falun Gong practitioners are united every time they gather.” She added, “It is also a great surprise for us to see so many people (400 million) quit the CCP. They have seen the evil behavior of the CCP, so they can wake up and withdraw from the CCP voluntarily. I think this is a gratifying thing.”

Wong Yiu Man, spokesperson of the Hongkonger in Deutschland e.V., addressed the rally.

Wong Yiu Man, spokesperson of the Hongkonger in Deutschland e.V., said, “According to the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party, the accumulating number who quit the Party reached 400 million on August 3, 2022. Since 1949, the CCP has ruled the Chinese people with autocracy. It has destroyed culture, freedom and human rights, not only in China but all over the world.”

He reminded people, “Article 1 of the German Federal Constitution states that human rights are inviolable. It is the duty of all state powers to respect and protect human rights. To act, a free state should stand on the side of the oppressed to defend democracy.”

In his congratulatory message Xi Haiming, Chairman of the Great Khural Parliament of Southern Mongolia and Chairman of the Inner Mongolia People’s Party, wrote, “Today, people are gathering to support the disintegration of the CCP. The CCP is an evil interest group and a gang organization. Letting people abandon the CCP is meaningful. In this regard, Falun Gong practitioners have made great efforts.”

He added, “People know that the CCP is evil. If the CCP does not disintegrate or fall, not only will China have no hope, but it will also be a disaster for the world.”

Liao Tianqi, Vice Chairman of PEN International Peace Committee and President of the Voice of Europe, sent a letter of support for the event. Her letter stated, “I sincerely congratulate and praise the Falun Gong practitioners who are here today to participate in this rally. Today our world is full of all kinds of ugly and strange phenomena such as war, violence and hatred, but you still maintain strong in your determination, good and beautiful wishes, express your inner beliefs in a peaceful way, and pray for world peace. Let us believe that tolerance can resolve hatred, goodwill can relieve violence, and peace will come.”

Islamdin Tajamow, Delegate of the World Uyghur Congress 

Islamdin Tajamow of the World Uyghur Congress described the CCP’s persecution of Uyghurs in Xinjiang and called on people to take action. He reiterated, “Human rights should be enjoyed by people all over the world.” In an interview, he said, “I think this (three withdrawals) is not an easy task for the Chinese. It takes courage. People are misled by the CCP’s propaganda and forced to accept inhumane values.”

He said, “Such activities are very meaningful. The persecuted people can get the attention and support of people from different regions, and have the opportunity to get help.”

Tajamow said in an interview, “(Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance) are very important values for human beings, for all people. This enables people to live in harmony, be sincere, and help each other.”

Wu Manyang, an expert on China issues in Germany and a political and business consultant

Wu Manyang, an expert on China issues in Germany and a political and business consultant, said in his speech, “The announcement of 400 million people withdrawing from the CCP organizations means that 400 million people have awakened, saw through the evil nature of the CCP and announced a break with it. In this way, the CCP’s ambition to control the world and serve all mankind will be greatly attacked and restricted. Therefore, the German people should also be happy for the 400 million fighters who quit the CCP, celebrate this milestone together and cheer for a better world. I believe that one day, the world will thank thousands of Falun Gong practitioners for their peaceful way of quitting the CCP, to wake people up, to steadily dismantle the CCP, a human rights thug, and making the world upright.”

Background: What Is Falun Dafa and Why Is the CCP Persecuting It?

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings, which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and have learned the five exercises, have experienced improved health and well-being.

Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline’s growing popularity as a threat to the CCP’s atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, he issued an order to eradicate the practice.

Under Jiang’s personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 23 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. Countless practitioners have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.

There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply China’s organ transplant industry.