(Clearwisdom.net) On March 7, Sunday, the 40^th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade was held in Staten Island, New York. About one hundred groups and organizations participated in the parade. Around one hundred thousand people from New York and New Jersey watched the parade. A procession consisting of a hundred Falun Gong practitioners performed the traditional Chinese lion dance, waist drums, and the graceful water lily fairy dance, which were warmly welcomed.

Falun Gong procession	Water lily fairy dance	Falun Gong practitioners' waist drum group

It is the first time for Falun Gong practitioners to participate in the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Staten Island. Some practitioners held green balloons and banners with the words "Falun Dafa" and "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance". Following them was the Chinese lion dance team, followed by water lily fairy dancers, consisting of ten female practitioners wearing traditional costumes and holding beautiful water lilies. At the end was the waist drum group. The Falun Gong practitioners brought Eastern culture to the parade, and more importantly, they brought the message of their persistent belief in "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance."

Falun Gong practitioners said that people commemorated St. Patrick for his persistence in his belief. Today in China, Falun Gong practitioners are being persecuted for persisting in their belief. The practitioners in the parade hoped to arouse people's conscience to help end the persecution.