(Clearwisdom.net) In order to celebrate the 15^th Anniversary of Falun Dafa's Public Introduction, "World Falun Dafa Day" and respectfully send congratulations for Revered Master's 56^th birthday, hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners from California gathered in Chinatown in San Francisco on May 12, 2007. They held a series of celebratory activities, including, Falun Gong exercise demonstrations, teaching the exercises, photo exhibit, music and dance performances, and other activities. Practitioners said that Falun Gong has benefited more than 100 million people around the world both physically and spiritually since its public introduction, and they hoped that more people could learn the truth about Falun Gong. People who watched the activities said that they hoped the persecution will end soon.

Falun Gong practitioners do the exercises in the morning

People learn to practice Falun Gong

American doctor shares his cultivation experience, and condemns the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong

Falun Gong practitioners clarify the facts

A rally held to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day

Parade procession

Parade procession

Parade procession

Led by the Divine Land Marching Band, which is composed of more than a hundred Falun Gong practitioners, the parade procession encircled Chinatown. The marching band performed majestic selections including, "Falun Dafa Is Good," "Fa Drums and Fa Trumpets Shake the Ten Directions" and "Fa Rectifies the Universe" along the way. The band was followed closely by a section with practitioners holding colored banners bearing messages, such as "May 13-Heaven and Earth Celebrate World Falun Dafa Day," "Falun Dafa Is Good" and "The World Needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." The grand procession and vigorous drum beats attracted many passersby and tourists along the way. They took out cameras or cell phones to take photos of the parade procession. Some people applauded.

After the parade, the practitioners held a rally at the Garden Corner in Chinatown. Several practitioners shared their experiences of having achieved physical and mental well being after practicing Falun Gong. About ten Western Falun Gong practitioners sang "Falun Dafa Is Good."

Hostess Dr. Sherry Zhang said that since Master Li Hongzhi first introduced Falun Dafa to the public in 1992, Falun Dafa has been spread widely to over 80 countries. She also talked about the journey that Falun Gong practitioners have walked through over the past 15 years. She condemned Jiang and the CCP for their brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

Software engineer Zhang Liang from Silicon Valley of California said that since he started practicing Falun Gong, all kinds of illnesses that he had suffered before, such as arthralgia (joint pain), cough, asthma and prostatitis disappeared. He said that the CCP is still persecuting Falun Gong, and it is his responsibility to tell people what Falun Gong really is. He said, "When I see the plight of Falun Gong practitioners inside China and the persecution they have suffered, I feel that as I'm outside of China, I have a responsibility to step forward to speak out. Falun Gong is indeed very good, it enable people to improve both physically and mentally. It purifies people physically, and spiritually, it teaches people to become good."

Zhang Liang said, "I believe if people can obtain objective and impartial information, they will make their own judgment. So I step forward to take part in these activities to tell those people who have been deluded and poisoned by the wicked CCP what Falun Gong truly is. I hope people can make their own choice after having learned some facts."

An American practitioner who is a doctor has practiced Falun Gong for eight years. He said he had great interest in the East and qigong when he studied in medical school. Since he got to know Falun Gong, he realized it's easy to learn and has quick effects. It teaches people to cultivate by following "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" and to become good people. Since he practiced Falun Gong, he has had a positive understanding of life, and his relationships are more harmonious with his family and friends. The doctor condemned the CCP's fabricating lies to deceive the public, such as "practitioners do not take medicine." He said, "As a doctor, I have practiced [Falun Gong] for many years, Falun Gong has not at all had such a saying as the 'practice forbids people to take medicine.'"

Ms. Gao, sixty-eight years old, and her husband Mr. Liu and nearly 30 Falun Gong practitioners came from Los Angeles to participate in the day's activities. Ms. Gao said that since she was 5 years old, she has been puzzled by one question: Why did I come here, and where will I go? She often dreamed of wanting to go home. Since her Falun Dafa practice, she found out that the question that had accompanied her for so long was resolved.

Ms. Gao said that others said she was always in high spirits, unlike a person who is nearly 70 years old. Nobody even could think that she had been a cancer patient before. She said Falun Dafa gave her second life. She hoped that people do not believe in the CCP's lies and hate propaganda, and hurriedly take initiative to learn the truth.

During the celebration, many tourists stopped to watch, applaud, cheer, and take flyers. They signed the petition to oppose the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong.

Ms. Li who just came to San Francisco from Taishan, Guangdong Province said that seeing Falun Gong practitioners' activities, she felt very peaceful and harmonious. She asked where she could find Falun Gong practitioners in San Francisco.

Ms. Li said that she had friends who practiced Falun Gong when she was in China. They achieved sound health. The CCP slanders Falun Gong, and this is not good. A human being should have conscience and love. She opposed the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong.

Speaking of quitting the CCP in China, Ms. Li said that her parents were labeled as rightists during the Cultural Revolution, and she was discriminated against. The CCP has made the mainland a big mess. She quit the CCP's Youth League and Young Pioneer anonymously on the spot.

Mr. Muller and his family who came from Germany were attracted by the activities. Mr. Muller said that Falun Gong practitioners are very peaceful, and he could not comprehend why the CCP persecutes Falun Gong. When he learned that the head of the CCP, Jiang, persecuted Falun Gong out of his jealousy, he said the persecution is wrong.

Mr. Hu, a resident of the Bay Area said that it is a good thing to believe in "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." Freedom of belief is one's basic right, and also a universal value that should not be persecuted. As Mother's Day was approaching, he wished all mothers in the world, including mothers of Falun Gong practitioners, Happy Mother's Day. He also hoped the persecution would end soon.

One of the coordinators of the activity, Lu Hui, from the Bay Area pointed out that several CCP officials headed by Jiang have been sued in over ten countries for "Genocide," "Torture" and "Crimes against Humanity" and other crimes for their leading roles in the persecution of Falun Gong.

Lu Hui said that by conducting himself according to "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," he has achieved sound health, and more importantly, he has achieved a pure mind and the elevation of his moral standard. He called upon people from all walks of life to work together to stop the CCP's evil persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

During the celebration, over a dozen Western practitioners sang in Chinese "Falun Dafa Is Good". Several young practitioners performed the dance "Lotus" to express their gratefulness to revered Master. They also wanted to commemorate the fellow practitioners who have died as a result of the persecution. People stopped to watch, and listen attentively. The scene was touching.