(Minghui.org) Over 2,000 Falun Dafa practitioners held a grand march in Flushing, New York on April 21 to commemorate the peaceful appeal in Beijing 25 years ago. They also celebrated the nearly 430 million Chinese people who quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) organizations. 

With one of the largest Chinatowns in the world, Flushing has diverse Chinese communities as well as residents of other ethnicities. The march started on Main Street and 41st Avenue, headed south on Main Street, turned left on Sanford Avenue, and continued on Kissena Blvd. A rally was then held next to the Flushing Library and the entire event lasted three hours. The New York City Police Department and the 109th Precinct provided full security for the march and rally.

A grand march was held in Flushing, New York on April 21 to commemorate the peaceful appeal in Beijing on April 25, 1999

Many recent Chinese immigrants said they were impressed by the banners with words such as “The world needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” and “Quitting the CCP Will Bring a Better Future in China.” More than 10 members from Chinese Democracy & Human Rights Alliance attended the march and carried a banner: “Supporting Falun Dafa.”

Yi Zhongyuan, a representative for the Falun Dafa Association in New York, said a peaceful appeal under the CCP’s totalitarian ruling was unimaginable in the past. “The appeal in 1999 set an example of peacefully opposing brutalities with rationality, and it served as a beacon for moral values in our society,” she said. 

Witness’ Testimony: Sincere Voice

Zhang Songlin, former lecturer of Capital Medical University, participated in the appeal 25 years ago. Because 45 practitioners were arrested in the nearby city of Tianjin, over 10,000 practitioners went to the Central Appeals Office in Beijing to peacefully request their release. “By following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, practitioners had no fear and no political pursuit. We only had a sincere wish to become a better person,” he explained. “Anyone who experienced the CCP’s political campaigns, especially the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989 knew the CCP’s terror. But what we practitioners did was based on trust in the government and kindness. There were no personal interests involved.”

Ever since the CCP took power in 1949, such a peaceful appeal never happened in China; it was also rarely seen in the world. Many practitioners were police or military officers, professors, officials from the justice system, or business professionals. “There were about 100 million practitioners and they represented China’s mainstream society,” Zhang explained. “By targeting Falun Dafa and the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the CCP undermined the moral foundation in China; had the CCP accepted Falun Dafa at the time, our society would have been different today.”

Learning the Real Story

Li is from mainland China and he was deeply moved by the march. He agreed with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and said they will make our world a better place. “I hope more people can practice Falun Dafa,” he added. “Sometimes I see practitioners on the street telling others about the practice, rain or shine. I admire their perseverance.”

Back in China, Li often received materials from practitioners in the hallway or in the communities. “After reading them and watching the DVDs, I learned how the CCP slandered Falun Dafa with lies such as the staged Self-Immolation Incident on Tiananmen Square. From them I learned Falun Dafa is great and practitioners are good people,” he said. 

Rich in Cultural Elements

Dai and his mother are visiting New York, and they saw the march while dining in Flushing. “This is the first time I’ve seen something like this. Very colorful and rich in cultural elements,” Dai said. 

“This looks great! I can tell these people (practitioners) have high caliber characters. I am very touched and hope I can see this in China one day,” Dai’s mother said. 

Another spectator Yu said practitioners had positive energy. “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good. That is the way we should be,” he added. 

The Power of Faith and Humanity

Zhao came from China six months ago and he’s been working in other states. The first day he returned to New York, he saw the march and was surprised by the event. Seeing the large number of practitioners of all ages, professions, and ethnicities, Zhao said, “To be honest, it’s hard for Chinese people to have faith these days. That’s why I was wondering why so many people believe in Falun Dafa. This is the power of faith.”

The peaceful appeal in 1999 was the largest peaceful appeal after the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989, said Susan Liu. “Why did only Falun Dafa practitioners appeal? I can see that the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are better, practitioners help each other, and are stronger.”

She thought practitioners were different from ordinary Chinese. “This is because their humanity was restored and the positive side of mankind was revealed,” She continued. “I would like to see more Chinese people act this way. I also hope such a march can be held in China soon.”

“Imagine Having This March in China”

Some Chinese who renounced the CCP organizations during the event also joined the march in the section of “Quitting the CCP.” Among them was Gong who was glad to participate in this event because this is the culture he felt connected to. 

“Falun Dafa brought us the faith of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, allowing us to see the vicious nature of the CCP,” Gong said. “There are so many spectators in Flushing already. Imagine having this march in China, I’m sure the number of people watching will be many more. That will bring China to a new level and I hope this will come soon.”

Netizen: The Strength of Inner Peace

Mo has his own Internet blog and said he was happy to see a march of Falun Dafa practitioners again. “From the calm faces of Falun Dafa practitioners, I can see the strength of inner peace that comes from their faith. I support Falun Dafa practitioners and their efforts of opposing the CCP,” he said. 

The principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are very important and powerful, especially in this society of chaos, Mo added. “I’m a Christian. But I think everyone with principles, everyone with conscience should support Falun Dafa practitioners, because what’s happening to them could happen to any one of us,” he said. 

Thank Practitioners for Their Efforts

Li, about 40, is from Chengdu City of Sichuan Province in China. While watching the march with his son, he said he could understand the suffering practitioners have been experiencing. “The CCP cannot tolerate traditional values and my grandfather was also persecuted by the regime. From my family’s experiences I doubted the CCP’s propaganda. After reading the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, I understood everything and I truly appreciate Falun Dafa practitioners’ efforts to tell people the facts and revive traditional values.”

Ordonez from Ecuador, watched the march with his daughter and they liked it very much. Upon hearing the benefits of Falun Dafa and how practitioners were mistreated in China, Ordonez said the world needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. “I could feel peace and I will look into the teachings as well as the exercises,” he said. 

Yu from Fujian Province said he was moved by the march. “This reminded me of the Falun Dafa practitioners I met in China. Before the persecution started in 1999, there were practitioners everywhere. I hope to see it in China again,” she said. 

Shi who immigrated to New York several years ago said he really enjoys watching the march every year. “I am 75 and I experienced many political campaigns, including seizing lands from landlords and confiscating assets from business owners, and killing. I have seen so many things,” he explained. 

Zheng came from China to New York several months ago. He was happy to see the peaceful event and said he would tell his friends about it. 

Zhang said he noticed the number of practitioners increased. “Plus we no longer see [pro-CCP] people on the streets waving red flags. Apparently, no matter which political party is in control, the U.S. Government reached a consensus of confronting the CCP,” he said. 

Li said he respected Falun Dafa for their perseverance throughout the years. He said the march is great. “In spite of the suppression in China, there are so many people practicing Falun Dafa overseas. This is amazing,” he said. 

Zhou said she is happy to be in the U.S., a land of freedom. “I am happy to see Falun Dafa activities and sometimes I join them. I’ve seen through the CCP and severed ties with the organizations,” she said. 

After the march, practitioners had a rally next to the Flushing Library. In the evening, a candlelight vigil was held in front the Chinese Consulate calling for an end to the persecution.