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Montreal: Candlelight Vigil Exposes the Persecution (Photos)

July 23, 2011 |   By Minghui correspondent Xiao Yan

(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Gong practitioners in Montreal, Canada, gathered in Zhongshan Park in Chinatown on the evening of July 19, 2011, to mourn their fellow practitioners who have died in the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) persecution. They called for people to join the effort to end the brutal persecution, which has been going on for the past 12 years.


Falun Gong practitioners demonstrate the exercises in Zhongshan Park

Practitioners' group exercise from 6 to 8 p.m. attracted passersby, many of whom wanted to learn the exercises.




A practitioner tells passersby about Falun Gong

Sandoval heard about Falun Gong from her friend and went to the candlelight vigil. She imitated Falun Gong practitioners to do the exercises and felt warm energy on her arms and very comfortable overall. She couldn't help her tears from falling. She said she would definitely learn more about Falun Gong.

It was the first time Natasha had heard about Falun Gong, but she felt so great when she saw the practitioners that she wanted to learn. She said she wanted to bring her husband to join the group exercise on Saturday.

When it turned dark, practitioners lit candles and started the solemn vigil. The music they played, “Candlelight” and “Please Sit Next to Me,” touched people's hearts. Many stopped to listen to the music and observe the vigil.


Falun Gong practitioners hold a candlelight vigil in Zhongshan Park

Practitioners held up candles and placed the names of persecution victims in front of them. Passersby were shocked by the brutality of the persecution and signed a petition calling for an end to the persecution.

One gentleman studied the photo display for a long time. He said, “It is terrible! No, No, No, we can't let it continue. We must not. People have the right to make choices for their own lives. Seeing this (the torture), we know we need to work together to stop it.”


Passersby learn about the persecution from practitioners


People sign in support of Falun Gong


After seeing pictures of torture victims, two ladies said, “It is terrible! It's hard to believe all this is happening.”

Mr. Jing from China said he heard about the CCP persecution of Falun Gong eight or nine years ago. “It is shocking this persecution is still going on,” he said. “The CCP is the root of the evil in the land of China. All wicked doings can be traced back to the CCP.” He announced his withdrawal from the CCP right away.

After seeing pictures of how the CCP has persecuted the Chinese people over the past 60 years, a young man from China said, “You can't see this in China. I didn't know this until I came abroad. It is so cruel! It shouldn't happen!” He was shocked by the pictures of Falun Gong practitioners who were tortured. After hearing about the CCP's crime of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners, he quit the CCP right away.

An elderly lady from China was deeply touched by the candlelight vigil. She said she knew some Falun Gong practitioners and learned about the persecution when she was in China. She said she wanted to quit the CCP organizations she had previously joined.

Mr. Xu from New York accepted truth-clarification materials from Falun Gong practitioners and told the reporter, “I heard about Falun Gong a long time ago. I support Falun Gong!” Hearing that Falun Gong has been persecuted for the past 12 years, he said, “Down with the CCP!”