Northern California Falun Gong Practitioners Take Part in Newark Days Parade (Photos)

By Kerry Huang

(Clearwisdom.net) The City of Newark, California celebrated its 50^th anniversary with a parade on September 24, with about 100 organizations and groups taking part. Falun Gong practitioners were also invited to join the event. This was the 6^th time that practitioners in Northern California bay area have participated in Newark Days Parade.

Falun Dafa practitioners' procession

Banner reads, "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance"

Banner reads, "Falun Dafa is Good

Banner reads in English, "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance

Falun Gong exercise demonstration troupe

Waist drum troupe

Newark is a multicultural city, as people from many different nationalities reside here. City council member Sue Johnson expressed that the city celebration is held annually and organizations from different ethnic groups, backgrounds and religions are invited to join the event. This also reflects that the city really pays attention to the harmony among residents and respect for different religions.

Falun Gong practitioners' procession was composed of a waist drum troupe, an exercise demonstration troupe, and a young practitioners' dance troupe. Some practitioners unfurled banners that read, "Falun Dafa", "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance", "The World Needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance". When a police officer saw a banner written in Vietnamese, "Falun Dafa Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance", he told a practitioner that his girlfriend is Vietnamese. Then he said, "Falun Gong is great!"

When the procession passed by, many spectators said, "It's beautiful!" While watching the parade, some spectators learned the Falun Gong exercises. A less-than-3-year-old boy who sat on his father's shoulders also stretched his arms to copy the practitioners' movements. When practitioners pressed their hands together in front of their chest (Heshi), he also mimicked the hand gesture. He fixed his attention on the practitioners until they were far away.

Young practitioners performing Chinese folk dance

Young practitioners holding a banner that read, "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance"

Young practitioners unfurling a banner that reads, "The World Needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance"

A boy copying practitioners' exercise movements

Spectators eagerly learning about the truth

Spectators accept truth-clarification materials and immediately read them.

After the parade concluded, several young practitioners who wore yellow T-shirts imprinted with Dafa message were on their way to return to the parade's starting position. A western lady asked them, "What is Falun Gong? The parade host said that Falun Dafa is a spiritual belief. Then is it a religion?"

Practitioners answered, "No. Falun Gong is a kind of qigong and its practitioners follow the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. Therefore, after practicing cultivation, many people gain better health and their moral standard is also improved. They become better persons." The lady was very happy and said this is exactly what she had been searching for. She said that she could feel that practicing Falun Gong allows people to be more peaceful.

Enthusiastic spectators

Enthusiastic spectators

Enthusiastic spectators

Practitioners gave her a truth-clarification flyer and told her that she could download the exercise instructions from internet and learn the exercises. All Falun Dafa books including Zhuan Falun can be downloaded free of charge. Practitioners stressed that it is really important to read the book, which guides people to become truthful, kind, and tolerant. They also told her about practice sites nearby. The lady was so excited that she held practitioners' hands and kept saying, "Thank you!"

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/9/25/111188.html

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