Edmonton, Canada: Rally Marks April 25 Appeal

(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners held a rally at the Dr. Wilbert Mcintyre Park in downtown Edmonton on April 17, 2026, to mark the 27th anniversary of April 25 appeal in Beijing. They did the Falun Dafa exercises together, collected signatures on a petition, and raised awareness of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution and its transnational repression.

A representative from the Edmonton Falun Dafa Association explained what happened during the April 25 appeal and what events led up to it. On April 25, 1999, more than 10,000 practitioners went to the State Appeals Office in Beijing to petition for the release of dozens of practitioners who had been arrested in Tianjin. They also requested a normal environment for practicing Falun Gong and the resumption of the publication of Falun Gong books. Practitioners had no slogans. When hearing that the practitioners detained in Tianjin had been released, the gathering dispersed in an orderly fashion.

Practitioners held group practice at the Dr. Wilbert Mcintyre Park in downtown Edmonton on April 17, 2026, to mark the 27th anniversary of the April 25 appeal.

Reminding the Public About the CCP’s Transnational Repression

The Edmonton Falun Dafa Association representative also reminded the public about the CCP’s infiltration and its transnational repression in democratic countries. The CCP targets Falun Gong today and may also target Canadian citizens who do not align with its interests. The CCP has established secret outposts in Canada to harass and intimidate Canadian Falun Gong practitioners. It also issued hoax bomb threats to theaters, forcing one theater in Toronto to cancel performances by Shen Yun Performing Arts, thereby preventing Canadian citizens who had bought tickets from seeing these shows.

Practitioners raise awareness of the persecution and collect signatures from passersby.

April 25 Appeal Participants Call for an End to the Persecution

Dalong started practicing Falun Dafa in 1995 and participated in the April 25 appeal. He went to Tiananmen Square again to appeal for an end to the persecution in 2000. He was arrested and detained for 20 days. This experience made him feel the pain of being deprived of the right to practice one’s belief.

Eric started practicing Falun Gong in high school with his mother. He also participated in the April 25 appeal and later experienced the persecution. Two years ago, his whole family immigrated to Canada. He said he was fortunate to practice Falun Gong freely in Canada.

Both Dalong and Eric are fortunate to live in this country, but the CCP’s persecution is ongoing. They called on everyone in Canada and the government to help stop the persecution and the CCP’s transnational repression, and they requested the release of all imprisoned practitioners.