Falun Gong practitioners' contingent marches down Constitution Avenue

The Divine Land Marching Band conveys spirit of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance

The main route of the parade was Constitution Avenue in downtown Washington, and several hundred thousand enthusiastic spectators lined both sides of the street. Over 100 groups participated in this year's parade. There were all kinds of floats, bands and dance performances. Many groups took celebrating freedom and independence as their theme.

Three western and Chinese Falun Gong practitioners in exercise suits held a banner reading "Falun Gong, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" and walked at the front of the Falun Gong contingent. Followed them closely was an elaborately decorated float, on which several Falun Gong practitioners from different nationalities demonstrated the exercises. On the top of the float was a huge lotus flower and numerous smaller lotuses surrounding it, which symbolize the cultivators' character of growing in muddy water, but emerging untainted. Six "celestial maidens" in traditional Tang Dynasty costumes and colorful ribbons gracefully danced on both sides of the float. The Falun Gong practitioners' performance drew rounds of applause from the spectators.

Behind the float was the Divine Land Marching Band composed of nearly 200 Falun Gong practitioners. The band was divided into eight columns, which were majestic and spectacular. The band performed five pieces of music including "Falun Dafa is Good," "Fa Drums and Fa Trumpets Shake the Ten Directions," "Fa Rectifies the Universe," "America the Beautiful," and "Delivering Precious Gifts."

"Falun Gong Represents Chinese Culture"

The main stage of the parade was on the roadside of Constitution Avenue just opposite the White House, with the Washington Monument in the backdrop. When the Falun Gong practitioners' contingent passed by the main stage, the host introduced to the spectators that Falun Gong is a cultivation method of both body and mind. It originated from ancient China and is based on the principles of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." The host also introduced lotus float and the Divine Land Marching Band.

The person in charge of the parade, Mr. Todd Marcocci, said in an interview that the Falun Dafa group represents itself with the highest level of professionalism and quality. Every time they join our parade, we know that they will bring us the best. Regardless of if it is a marching band of 200 people or a waist drum lineup of 200 people, or a float, we know that it will be high quality. 

He said that the Falun Gong practitioners' participation in the American Independence Day parade forms a contrast with the persecution of Falun Gong in China. On one side, the Falun Gong exercise group is deprived of its rights and subjected to the persecution [in China], while mainstream society [outside of China] embraces and welcomes Falun Gong. For us, many spectators are like old friends. They not only saw the Falun Gong practitioners' spiritual character, but also saw wonderful Chinese culture.

Divine Land Marching Band Members Express Their Feelings

Mr. Chen Rutang, conductor of the Divine Land Marching Band, said that the band is composed of members from different nationalities, countries, ages and professions. He said, "But we share a common trait, that is, based on the principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, we are in great harmony, and the music expressed contains the spirit of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. We express what we want to say through music."

Well-known US professional drummer Sterling Campbell is a drummer in the band. He said that the members of the Divine Land Marching Band perform with their hearts, there is a spirit behind it conveying a message, and that they communicate from the depths of their hearts. He said that from the spectators' expressions, he could see that they understood.

Renowned singer Mr. Guan Guimin, who is in his 60s, is also one of the members of the Divine Land Marching Band. He said that the band's members got up at 3:00 a.m. and rode a bus to DC. After the DC parade, they rushed to Philadelphia to take part in the Independence Day Parade there. Nevertheless, he said that he did not feel a bit tired. Mr. Guan said, "While in the parade, I felt solemn and sacred. People should be able to see from our performance and demeanor that the CCP's persecution inside China is doomed to failure."

M.D. Ms. Wang Yiqun plays the flute in the band. It was the second time for her to take part in the Independence Day Parade in Washington DC. She said, "As a Falun Gong practitioner, we are here in the United States to be able to participate in today's Independence Day Parade, walk down Constitution Avenue, and be recognized by mainstream society, while in mainland China, the same Falun Gong practitioners suffer the CCP's persecution."

Wang Yiqun said, "Everything we have done is not for ourselves, because we have enjoyed freedom in the United States. Today we walk down Constitution Avenue, use what we can do, and use the musical instruments to express our feelings. We hope that in the near future, the day when the persecution is stopped, we can go to China's Tiananmen Square and use our musical instruments to perform Falun Dafa Is Good, and to show the entire world the wonderfulness of Falun Dafa."

People Who Have Learned About the Truth

John Henrick, who works as a chef in Washington, said that he could often see the Falun Gong practitioners' contingent in DC parades. He said that he had read Falun Gong flyers before, and had a certain understanding of Falun Gong and the persecution. He said that he was pleased to see the Falun Gong practitioners' contingent once again in the Independence Day Parade.

There were many Chinese people among the spectators. One government officer who works at China's State Department came to DC for a short term visit. He happened to see Falun Gong practitioners in the parade. He said that several years ago when he went to the UK, he downloaded the book Zhuan Falun from the Internet. He asked himself to read the book without having any notions, and as a result, he found that it is widely divergent from what the CCP propagates, and everything in the book is to teach people to be good. He thought that so long as it does not affect anybody, and teaches people to be good, it should not be suppressed. He said that he could often receive the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party from the fax machine in his work unit.

Person in charge of the parade Mr. Todd Marcocci said that when the United States were first established, the persecuted puritans found a free land here. America's independence is a landmark event in the world. It affects and forms many people's thoughts. It encourages people in any corner of the world, regardless of if they live in the US or other places.