Thousands Gather in U.S. Capital to Mark 25th Anniversary of Falun Gong Persecution
On the morning of July 11, 2024, Falun Gong practitioners held a rally on the National Mall to call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong in China on the 25th anniversary. (Credit: Minghui.org)
On July 11, 2024, a sea of Americans gathered in the nation’s capital to raise awareness about the persecution of Falun Gong, a Buddhist-based spiritual practice. For 25 years, adherents have been subject to harassment, arbitrary detention, torture—or even death—at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The occasion was marked by a rally on the National Mall, a large-scale parade through historic landmarks, and a candle vigil in front of the Capitol Building. Government officials from various U.S. states spoke at the rally and expressed their support through letters and videos, highlighting the widespread support to end the persecution of Falun Gong in China.
Rally for Freedom
The rally on the National Mall featured U.S. officials and human rights experts, highlighting the ongoing harassment, detention, torture, and deaths faced by Falun Gong practitioners in China.
The Falun Dafa Information Center attended the rally and filmed a short video to explain the event and its significance.
Speakers included Representative Pat Ryan (D-NY) and Asif Mahmood of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, as well as human rights experts, including Eric Patterson, President of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. Survivor Chen Jingyu, a Falun Gong practitioner, also shared her experiences of surviving torture in Chinese prison.
The rally banners displayed meaningful messages like, “Thank you, U.S. House of Reps for passing [the] Falun Gong Protection Act!” This refers to the unanimous passage of H.R. 4132, the Falun Gong Protection Act (H.R. 4132), on June 25. Other banners in the rally read “Falun Dafa” in Chinese and ”End the persecution.”
Some adherents wore white and solemnly carried portraits of family members and other practitioners who were killed over the past 25 years. These portraits, adorned with floral wreaths, highlighted the tragic losses and ongoing persecution faced by Falun Gong practitioners.
Parade Exposing the CCP
Following the rally, a thousand-strong parade made its way through Pennsylvania Avenue, passing many historical landmarks.
During the parade livestream, our director of Digital Outreach, Ben Maloney was in the NTD Television studio providing context and commentary on the significance behind the different sections of the parade.
Leading the parade was the Tian Guo Marching Band, followed by Falun Gong practitioners holding banners. These banners highlighted the goodness of the spiritual practice, the importance of restoring morality and traditional values, the CCP’s brutal acts against Falun Gong practitioners, and the crime of forced organ harvesting.
As the sun set on Capitol Hill, practitioners gathered to perform the gentle, meditative exercises of the discipline.
To wrap up the day, a candlelight vigil was held to remember the practitioners who were persecuted to death by the Chinese Communist Party over the past 25 years. The number of Falun Gong believers documented to have died due to persecution reached 5,069 in May 2024, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center’s newest report. The true figure is likely larger due to the regime’s censorship.
Bipartisan Support from Congress
On this anniversary, officials in the United States published video statements and letters in support of Falun Gong practitioners and applauded their efforts to expose these crimes against humanity. They also condemned the CCP’s persecution and organ harvesting from living practitioners.
Letters and statements of support were sent by the following members of Congress as of July 11: Senator Dr. Roger Marshall, Senator James E. Risch, Senator Todd Young, Representative Gerry Connolly, Representative Sam Graves, Representative French Hill, Representative Young Kim, Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer, Representative Nancy Mace, Representative Dan Newhouse, Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr., Representative Scott Perry, and Representative Robert J. Wittman.
“I stand in solidarity with the many Falun Gong practitioners who fight for the freedom to speak and to practice the religion of their choice.”
“The Chinese Communist Party routinely terrorizes Falun Gong followers, imprisoning and torturing them for nothing more than their beliefs, the atrocities they commit on their people shows just how truly evil and corrupt the CCP is.”
More statements are being confirmed and compiled by the Falun Dafa Information Center as of July 14, 2024.
