Procession of Falun Gong practitioners
(Clearwisdom.net September 5, 2003) The parade in Brooklyn on Labor Day organized by WIADCA üiWest Indian American Day Carnival Associationüjwas held on Brooklyn Parkway on September 1, 2003. Near one million people came to see the parade although it rained continuously. Because of their excellent performance in last year's Philadelphia Carnival, Falun Gong practitioners were invited to participate in the parade in New York as representatives of China's most excellent culture.
The Falun Dafa Information Center reported that at 11:00 am, Mayor Bloomberg of New York City inaugurated the 2003 New York West Indian American Day Carnival. Several hundred organizations participated in this year's parade, including more than 30 processions of dances and costumes with rich cultural features, and 70 colorful floats. Falun Gong's procession was long as practitioners performed the Lion Dance, Dragon Dance, Chinese drum, Chinese dancing, and Falun Gong exercise demo to the audience of Chinese and Western people. The Tang Dynasty costumes, graceful dancing and Falun Gong exercise demo were eye-catching.
New York State Senator Keven Parker said that this year's New York West Indian American Day Carnival was the largest in the U.S. and as many as three million people attended. He said that New York is a multicultural metropolis and New York State Law protects beliefs of various races and human rights. This celebration is really a pageant of cultural exchange among various races.
The celebration lasted until 6:00 pm. It was not a sunny Labor Day this year, but it was the first grand gathering to enjoy fun and games on a holiday after the blackout of August 14.
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| Cheerful percussion instrument team | Demonstrating Falun Gong exercises | The principles of Falun Dafa: Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance |
