(Clearwisdom.net) On May 15, 2010, the 11th World Falun Dafa Day and the 18th anniversary of Falun Gong's public introduction were celebrated at St. Martin's Square in downtown London. The festivities, which included group exercise demonstrations and information distribution activities, expressed practitioners' gratitude towards Master Li, showcased the grace of Falun Gong, and called for public action to help stop the persecution of Falun Gong.
World Falun Dafa Day at St. Martin's Square in downtown London
Exercise demonstration
St. Martin's Square, which is adjacent to Trafalgar Square, is a crowded place. In recent years practitioners in London have been holding weekend events there, turning the place into a location where local residents and tourists can get information about Falun Gong.
The event site was decorated with colourful lotus flowers and eye-catching banners. Posters were set up in the middle. Those who read the exhibits could learned that Falun Gong is good and that the CCP's brutal persecution must stop immediately.
The celebration lasted a whole day. Practitioners took turns to demonstrate the exercises. Peaceful music and colourful costumes caught the attention of passers-by. Some smiling practitioners distributed information leaflets to passer-bys. From time to time they offered hand-made paper lotus flowers to those who stopped to watch. Many signed the petition form that called upon stopping the CCP's persecution.
Other than local practitioners from London, event participants also included those from other parts of UK. When interviewed, practitioners young or old, western or Chinese uniformly thanked the Master.
Ms. Zhou from Cambridge was a veteran practitioner who started cultivation in 1994. She said, "I am very grateful to Master for giving me another life. Prior to practicing Falun Gong, I was in a terrible state mentally and physically. I was too sick to work and was a big burden to both my family and the society. There was a lot of tension in my family and I was terribly stressed. Falun Gong gives me a new life, allowing me to regain healthy mind and body. Therefore I am very grateful to Master Li and Falun Gong."
The event attracted many spectators.
Signing the petition
There were also a few Chinese faces in the crowd of spectators. Some stopped to read the exhibits. Some did not stop but sympathetically accepted information leaflets. Some spent a long time watching practitioners' exercise demonstrations.
Mr. Liu who came from China eleven years ago said that he had been in the UK for too long to believe the CCP's lies anymore. He knew that Falun Gong is good, people should have the freedom of belief, and that the CCP's persecution must stop. He said, "Falun Gong benefits health. My friends in the UK have all seen or learned about Falun Gong. They were moved to tears." "It is not right for the CCP to ban the practice. People need to have freedom (of belief). People should be allowed to have freedom." Mr. Liu signed the petition, calling to stop the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong. He said, "Of course I dare to sign. Certainly the persecution has to stop. It is wrong to harm these people."
Mr. Liu, a Chinese passer-by, signs the petition to support Falun Gong
In the evening, the event ended in practitioners' chorus "Falun Dafa is good."
