UK: Falun Gong Practitioners Hold New Year's Eve Parade (Photos)

By a practitioner in the UK

(Clearwisdom.net) On December 29, 2005, just before the New Year, Falun Gong practitioners in the UK held a grand parade in the city of London. The parade underpinned the profoundness of traditional Chinese culture while exposing the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) six years' of brutal persecution against Falun Gong practitioners who believe in "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance."

At 10:30 in the morning on December 29, 2005, the parade set out from the Monument underground station, and followed Cannon Street to the famous St. Paul Cathedral, where practitioners stopped to demonstrate the five sets of Falun Gong exercises, send righteous thoughts, and reveal the extent of the CCP's persecution to residents and tourists. Continuing on from St. Paul's, the parade went through London's financial district, reaching London's Guildhall, where practitioners again stopped to demonstrate the exercises, send righteous thoughts and distribute leaflets to let passersby know more. Finally, from Guildhall the parade passed by one of London's most popular tourist attractions, the Tower of London, crossing the River Thames via one of London's landmarks, the Tower Bridge, to reach the London mayor's office. Near the mayor's office, some practitioners demonstrated the exercises while others distributed leaflets, telling people about the last six years of brutal persecution against Falun Gong in China. The activity successfully concluded at 4:15 p.m.

Wherever the parade went, people stopped to watch the exercise demonstrations, read leaflets and learn more about both Falun Gong and the persecution. Passing vehicles sounded their horns from time to time to show support.

Freelance writer and photographer taking photos of practitioners practicing the exercise

A freelance human rights writer and photographer named Tom who took up Falun Gong a few years ago followed the entire course of the parade taking pictures. When interviewed by the media, he said, "It was over three years ago when I saw Falun Gong's protest in front of the Chinese Embassy. A practitioner there gave me a leaflet. I came to know what Falun Gong is and felt interested in the practice after reading the leaflet. Falun Gong seems to be able to give me something that I cannot get from anywhere else, which is beneficial to both mind and body." Tom also commented on the CCP's human rights persecution of Falun Gong, "In my opinion anyone who is detrimental to the society, by abusing human rights or persecuting freedom of speech or belief will, in the end, harm himself. One of these days, people will stand up to defend their rights and freedom. I think the CCP's days are numbered. It is terrified that people will reclaim the rights that belong to them."

A tourist from Israel said, "I came to London for a holiday. I have been watching you for quite a while here. The exercises you demonstrated are so wonderfully peaceful. I am very interested. I will find my local Falun Gong practice site when I get back. Thank you for telling me how to find it on the internet."

Source: http://www.clearharmony.net/articles/200601/30773.html

Chinese version available at http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2005/12/31/117660.html

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