(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) practitioners in Germany held pop-up events to introduce Falun Dafa to locals and tourists. They exposed the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of practitioners in China. The activities were held at Marienplatz and Rotkreuplatz on July 30 and August 10, 2021. People learned the facts and signed a petition to call for an end to the persecution.
People were waiting in line to sign the petition during the event organized by practitioners at Marienplatz in Munich on August 10, 2021.
People signed a petition to support practitioners’ efforts to end the persecution.
A Chinese woman had a long conversation with a practitioner at Marienplatz, and she ultimately withdrew from the CCP’s Youth League with a pseudonym. Another German woman talked to a practitioner for a long time after signing the petition. She said that she worked nearby and often saw the practitioners’ activities, “If I don’t sign now to stop this [persecution], maybe one day such a thing will happen in Germany,” she said.
Former car repair shop owner Konrad Schätzl (left) and his friend took a photo after signing the petition.
“I believe in kindness. People of all faiths want kindness. We need peace in the world,” Mr. Konrad Schätzl, a former car repair shop owner, said when he and his friend passed by Marienplatz and saw the information about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa in China.
He said the practitioners’ exercise demonstrations looked very peaceful. He hoped that everyone could sign the petition, “The more the better, and then the Chinese people can have a good life,” he said.
Speaking of the CCP’s suppression of Falun Dafa practitioners who live according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, Mr. Schätzl said, “This is the worst thing people have done to a person, a nation, and the entire planet. To me, it’s extremely bad. So I signed it [the petition] right away.” He thought that attacking a Buddhist adherent was a most foolish act.
“No matter how many people it kills, evil cannot win. It will destroy itself sooner or later. It will only make things worse; it is crazy.” Mr. Schätzl felt it was a pity that people in Europe know too little about the persecution.
Daniela, a social worker, said she felt “very bad” when she saw the pictures in Marienplatz about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa in China. She signed a petition calling for the persecution to end. She felt that the CCP’s persecution of practitioners is “unbelievable. This is a very corrupt regime,” she said.
Daniela had already started to learn the Falun Dafa exercises by following the online videos. She had a good feeling inside as she watched practitioners demonstrate the exercises. She said she would go to the practice site at the Englischer Garten to properly learn them.
Practitioners demonstrating the exercises at Rotkreuzplatz.
People want to learn about Falun Dafa.
People signed a petition in support of practitioners’ efforts to end the persecution
Bärbel Meyer, an architect, immediately came to sign the petition as soon as she saw the practitioners’ information booth when she passed by Rotkreuzplatz. “Because I know a lot about the situation in China,” she said, “I found that what happened there was very worrying and dangerous for the people there.”
“Because of economic interests, the German government is often not clear enough about its stance when dealing with China (the Chinese Communist Party),” Bärbel said, “I think we should have a clear understanding on this issue.”
Ms. Meyer was shocked to learn that the CCP kills practitioners for their organs, “I already know that the Falun Gong movement is persecuted, but I didn’t know about the theft of organs. I think this is horrible! I can’t believe it.” She said, “When a movement does not harm anyone and has a positive purpose, a country has no right to persecute it.”
“I think the CCP is afraid of this movement (Falun Gong) because it pursues the truth,” Bärbel said, “The CCP is afraid that many grievances will become clear so it persecutes the Falun Gong movement and wants to stop people from joining Falun Gong.”
Hertha Ulrich, a teacher, passed by the information booth at Rotkreuzplatz and talked to a practitioner for a long time. She once saw practitioners protesting in front of the Chinese Consulate and felt that the practitioners did a great job. Later, she came across practitioners’ event in Karlsplatz, where she got informational materials and learned the facts of the persecution. This time she signed the petition to support the practitioners’ efforts to end the crackdown.
Ms. Ulrich was drawn by the Falun Dafa exercises and that she could feel a lot of energy from them, “The movements look very beautiful and are full of energy.” She gestured with her hands to imitate practitioners’ movements, “The hand movements are really wonderful!”
Ms. Ulich has worked for humanitarian organizations such as Amnesty International. She is very concerned about human rights issues and thinks they are very important. Upon learning that the CCP has persecuted Falun Gong practitioners for 22 years, Ms. Ulrich said, “After I read the information that I got from Karlsplatz, I realized that when people look within, they will criticize themselves and think independently. This is too dangerous for an authoritarian regime.”
“It is terrible when a person cannot develop oneself, and when one is enslaved by the state without freedom.” Ms. Ulrich mentioned the Nazis and how they persecuted the Jewish people, “I have studied history and know our country’s past.” She said that Falun Dafa practitioners are very brave because they have endured a lot of pain.
Ms. Urich wished practitioners success.