Washington DC: Candlelight Vigil Commemorates Victims of Chinese Regime’s 26-Year-Long Persecution

(Minghui.org) Practitioners gathered in Washington DC on the evening of July 17, 2025 and held a candlelight vigil to mourn Falun Dafa practitioners who lost their lives during the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution which began in July 1999.

Thousands of practitioners have been detained and tortured for their belief in the past 26 years. Over 5,000 deaths caused by the suppression have been confirmed by Minghui.org. Due to the CCP’s Internet censorship and information blockade, the actual number is likely much higher.

Practitioners held a candlelight vigil in Washington DC on the evening of July 17.

Candlelight doing the exercises on the National Mall

Widow Calls for Conscience and Kindness

Ms. Dai Zhizhen

Dai Zhizhen, 62, is one of the practitioners who lost their loved ones in the suppression. Her husband, Mr. Chen Chengyong, was only 34 when he died while in police custody in 2001. “The specific date of his death is still unknown. His body was discovered in a hut in a suburb of Guangzhou in southern China in July and had already begun to decompose,” she said.

Their daughter, Fadu, was only 15 months old at the time. With the help of the Australian government, Dai shipped his ashes to Sydney, Australia 8 months later. In the next few years, Dai and her daughter traveled to 46 countries to tell people about the brutal persecution.

What she and her family experienced is just one of many tragedies that occurred in the past 26 years, Dai explained. “Every year at the vigil, we call on people’s conscience and their kindness,” she added. “Kindness is embedded in each person.”

Teacher: Falun Gong Gives Me Patience and Kindness

Mary from Michigan

Mary from Ann Arbor, Michigan, also attended the candlelight vigil. Earlier that day, she visited congressional members’ offices to deliver documents to update them on the persecution that recently escalated.

She began practicing Falun Dafa in March 2017, and said as a teacher, “One of the main benefits I see is that I am much more patient with my students and my family. It sometimes can be difficult in the classroom. I find that, with Falun Gong I’m more more patient and more kind.” As a mother of two teenagers, she is grateful to Falun Gong for the guidance.

She felt bad that the suppression has continued for 26 years, “For fellow practitioners who are still suffering in mainland China, I want to tell you that, please do not give up. This is traditional spiritual belief here [in the U.S.] as well and we will work together to help you.”

Charlie Aronski from Virginia

Working as a manager for a company in Richmond, Virginia, Charlie Aronski said he began to practice Falun Gong in 2009. “I like the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance very much because they are valuable to everyone. This includes my family, my neighbors, and our society in general.”

He said his heart is with Falun Gong practitioners in China. “Some of them are detained in prisons and some have become victims of forced organ harvesting, so it is important for us to expose the vicious persecution here,” he continued.

Despite the harsh persecution, he encouraged fellow practitioners in China to persevere. “Let us stand up for what is right and do not give up,” he said.

This Is What Our Country Needs

Dee Pickard from Iowa

Dee Pickard came to Washington DC to visit elected officials. She saw the candlelight vigil and talked with a practitioner. She was very touched and took many photos with her cell phone.

This is the first time Pickard had heard about Falun Gong. “The scene here is very peaceful, something our country needs,” she explained. “If more people are able to practice this, our country will become a better place.”

She thanked the practitioner for the information and said it’s important to reject the CCP. She said the persecution had gone on too long and it should stop. Everyone should have freedom of belief as we do in the United States.

Nurse: Forced Organ Harvesting Is Unacceptable

Sol Johnson (right) is a nurse.

Sol Johnson who is a nurse said she watched practitioners’ march that afternoon. When the candlelight vigil started at the National Mall, she was glad to see practitioners again.

Speaking of the persecution by the CCP, especially forced organ harvesting, Johnson said, “It’s terrible and unacceptable. I don’t want to see this happening to anyone,” she continued.

She hopes the international society helps stop the persecution including organ harvesting in China. She expected to see more events like this so that more people will know what is going on.

She said she would look up more information online. She said practitioners bring hope to society and she’s very thankful for that.