Candlelight Vigil: Hongfa Activities Begin during World Economic Forum

New York Dafa Practitioner

The World Economic Forum is being held in New York from January 31 to February 4, 2002. Business leaders of many countries, influential people in world economic circles, famous entrepreneurs and experts in economic theory are attending the forum. To further clarify the truth of Falun Gong, Dafa practitioners from the US and other countries gathered in New York to introduce Falun Dafa to this important group and expose the Jiang regime's persecution of Falun Gong. The Hongfa activities started today.

In was cold and rainy in New York today, but the inclement weather did not stop the practitioners from clarifying the truth. At 8:00 a.m., Falun Gong practitioners gathered in front of the Waldorf Hotel, the forum location. New York police designated a place on sidewalk for the practitioners. At 9:00 a.m., the practitioners sent forth righteous thoughts together to eliminate all evils damaging Dafa. The exercise demonstration then began along with the exercise music. For this activity, Falun Gong practitioners wore the golden scarves designed and made by Taiwanese Dafa practitioners, which kept the cold away. The scene of golden color also displayed Dafa's peace and dignity.

During the exercise demonstration, the practitioners standing beside the street held banners or distributed truth-clarifying literature. Kind-hearted people experienced the power of righteous thoughts at the peaceful and serene scene and voiced their approval. After the September 11^th terrorist attack, the police strengthened precautions for all large scale activities and were very alert for the World Economic Forum. However, the Falun Gong practitioners' Hongfa and truth-clarifying activities are different. The peaceful activity created a safe atmosphere. The number of practitioners demonstrating the exercises increased from one hundred to over three hundred, so the police graciously expanded the demonstration area several times and offered another place in the neighboring block in the afternoon.

At 11:00 a.m., the practitioners held a press conference. Over 20 media, including CNN, attended and the reporters expressed their understanding of Dafa and sympathy toward the Falun Gong practitioners tortured by Jiang's regime in China.

In the afternoon, after sending forth righteous thoughts at the top of each hour, the practitioners sang songs composed by Dafa practitioners in addition to introducing Falun Gong. The songs' formidable power not only encouraged each practitioner but also affected passers-by and police on duty.

In the evening, a candlelight vigil was held.

At 9:00 p.m., the whole day's activities ended, and the practitioners left quietly without leaving a single piece of paper on the ground. What was left behind was the serenity and power of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance."

Similar activities will be held again during the next five days.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.ca/mh/articles/2002/2/2/24263.html

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