(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners in Vancouver, Canada, and people from all walks of life, held a rally and a candlelight vigil outside the Chinese consulate on July 19, 2026 to remember practitioners who died during the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 27-year persecution. They also called on people to help end it.

Practitioners from China who were persecuted, as well as democracy activists from Hong Kong, spoke at the rally, condemning the CCP for decades of brutally persecuting Falun Gong. They said everyone should have the inherent right to freedom of belief, as it is not a gift from any government; no tyranny can ever defeat freedom, no lies can cover up the truth forever. May the truth be seen, and may justice be served.

Practitioners displayed banners and signs outside the Chinese consulate on July 19, 2026. (Minghui.org)

Calling on People To Listen To Their Conscience

That evening, practitioners quietly stood outside the Chinese consulate and solemnly, held banners in Chinese and English: “The 27th Anniversary of Falun Gong Protesting Against the Persecution,” “Stay Away from the Evil, Choose Kindness,” “Stop Persecuting Falun Gong,” “The World Needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” “Stop the CCP’s Live Organ Harvesting from Falun Gong Practitioners.” They exposed the lies spread by the CCP to justify its persecution of Falun Gong and called on people to stop the CCP from taking organs from Falun Gong practitioners. Cars that drove past honked to express their support and approval.

Practitioners held a rally and candlelight vigil on the evening of July 19 to remember the practitioners tortured to death over the past 27 years. (Minghui.org)

Ms. Fang, spokesperson for Vancouver Falun Dafa Association, said at the rally that although Falun Gong practitioners had persevered through 27 years of persecution, they never retaliated with hatred or violence. Instead they courageously continued to tell people the truth about the persecution. She said, “We call on all kind people to choose their conscience, rather than indifference. Let justice prevail in the end.”

Ms. Fang, spokesperson for Vancouver Falun Dafa Association spoke at the rally. (Minghui.org)

The CCP’s actions have also awakened the Chinese people. According to David Liu, a representative of the Vancouver Quit the CCP Service Center, more than 400 million Chinese citizens have already withdrawn from the CCP on The Epoch Times’ website. He said, “Violence may create fear, but it cannot conquer people’s hearts, while kindness, justice, and faith will ultimately earn people’s respect.”

Practitioners held a candlelight vigil that evening.

According to Minghui.org statistics, since July 20, 1999 when the CCP began its persecution of Falun Gong, 5,359 practitioners have died from the persecution. Due to the CCP’s cover up and Internet censorship, the actual death toll may be far higher.

Regaining Freedom After Years of Persecution

Ms. Tang, a primary school teacher from Shanxi Province, was arrested, imprisoned, and sent to a forced labor camp three times. She came to Vancouver in May this year. She thanked Falun Gong practitioners outside of China for working to get her released. She said she felt tremendous support, which made her determined to step up and “Speak up for Falun Gong practitioners still persecuted by the CCP in China” after she regained her freedom.

Recalling that horrifying night on February 22, 2014, Ms. Tang was arrested by police officers who were monitoring her when she told people the facts about the persecution. One of them grabbed her arm and shouted, “You practice Falun Gong. I will take you heart, then your liver, followed by your kidneys. And finally I will take your lungs.”

Although many years have gone by, she said that voice is like a demon which makes people’s hair stand on end, and is unforgettable. However, she still chose to bravely to tell people her story. She said it is because “we cannot be afraid when facing the evil, we cannot retreat ... we can only stop the evil by exposing it.”

Ms. Tang said, “I must expose the bad things done by the CCP. I know, exposing the evil is disintegrating it.”

People From All Walks of Life Express Support

Many members of the China Democratic Party came to the rally and candlelight vigil to support Falun Gong practitioners.

Members of the China Democratic Party attended the activities that day to support Falun Gong practitioners. (Minghui.org)

Edmund Leung, president of the Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement, said in his speech that the CCP’s tyranny and long arm jurisdiction is extending overseas from China and Hong Kong. He said 27 years ago, the CCP launched a campaign to eradicate Falun Gong simply because “The CCP cannot tolerate any belief, loyalty, or group it cannot control. From that point, this persecution has never stopped; yet recently, it is getting worse.”

Edmund Leung, president of the Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement, spoke at the rally. (Minghui.org)

He pointed out that the persecution of innocent citizens by the evil will not stop with Falun Gong practitioners, it will not even stop within the borders in China. The CCP’s suppression of people in Hong Kong is the most real testimony.

He said, “The CCP follows people around the world like a shadow, monitoring them, pressuring their families in China, even after people go across the ocean in pursuit of freedom, the regime attempts to silence them. This is the real manifestation of ‘transnational repression’.”

Yuan Wei, member of the Canada branch of the China Democratic Party, attended the vigil that day to support Falun Gong practitioners. (Minghui.org)

Yuan Wei, member of the Canada branch China Democratic Party, said in his speech at the rally, that everyone should have the inherent right to freedom of belief. It is not something given by any government. Yet the CCP, this “illegal, violent tyrant,” suppresses basic human rights including religious freedom, freedom of speech, etc. long term and, “Brings deep suffering to countless families in China.”

He said, “For over two decades, allegations of detention, torture, and other serious human rights abuses against Falun Gong practitioners have received sustained attention from the international community, UN human rights experts, and Chinese human rights organizations. These allegations deserve open, independent, and transparent investigation, ensuring that all actions in violation of human rights are brought to justice.”

He ended his speech noting, “I believe that no tyranny can ever triumph over freedom, no lie can ever forever conceal the truth. May the truth be seen, may justice be served, and may China soon usher in freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, truly handing over power to the Chinese people.”

Zhang Xi, a member of the China Democratic Party, participated in the vigil. (Minghui.org)

Zhang Xi, another member from the China Democratic Party, also attended the vigil, and said she has “Respect and support for those who are persecuted” for their faith.

She said, “Everyone should have dignity, freedom of thought, and basic human rights. They should not be brutally suppressed or persecuted for their belief.”

She said the CCP’s tyranny has persecuted Chinese people for 77 years, yet “Such a regime that is becoming increasingly insane is doomed to perish.”

She ended her speech saying, “[I] believe one day, the light of freedom and justice will shine on our native land!”