(Minghui.org) Nearly 1,000 Falun Dafa practitioners held a grand march in Brooklyn on March 3, 2024, to celebrate the millions of people who have renounced the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its youth organisations. Brooklyn has the third largest Chinese community in New York, and many people who saw the parade said they were glad to hear about Falun Dafa and wanted the ongoing suppression in China to end.
The parade, which began on 41st Street and ended on 59th Street featured the Tian Guo Marching Band, lion and dragon dancers, floats, waist drummers, banners, and posters. Both tourists and local residents were impressed and spoke with practitioners to learn more as they took pictures and videos.
Yi Zhongyuan, President of the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP, said this event would help inform the Chinese immigrants so that they can understand the importance of severing ties with the CCP. She said the CCP has harmed its people with its hatred, brutality, and lies. By renouncing their memberships in its organizations, people can embrace conscience and kindness and have a better future. “Right now, people, including those in China, have less fear, and they dare to step forward and say ‘No’ to the regime,” she added.
The parade was led by the Tian Guo Marching Band, which played several melodies including “The Sacred Song.” Many people said they were amazed by the performances and really liked the music. The band was followed by large models of the book Zhuan Falun (the main teachings of Falun Dafa), exercise demonstrations, dragon and lotus dancers, and other performances. Some people said they liked the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Many Chinese said they were proud to see such a grand, colorful parade.
The second section of the march focused on the persecution of Falun Dafa in China and called for it to end. One man said, “The CCP is terrible and vicious. I support Falun Dafa!”
The third section encouraged people to recognize the true nature of the CCP and sever ties with the regime. Since the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party was published in November 2004, over 426 million people have renounced their memberships in its affiliated organisations, including the Youth League and Young Pioneers.
Jin Xiuhong, Chair of the China League for Democracy and Human Rights, said she was very supportive of Falun Dafa. “We voice our support to oppose the organ harvesting, stop the persecution, and end the CCP!” she added.
New Immigrants: Sharing the Information with Friends
Wu came to the United States two months ago. He agreed with the messages on the banners: “We need to embrace traditional values for a better future.” He said the CCP forces communist ideology on the Chinese people and controls all its resources, leading the country down a destructive path of no return.
Liu said his understanding of Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) in the past was limited to the CCP’s propaganda. He was glad to see that practitioners represented many professions, ages, and ethnicities. “I’m sharing my videos with my friends so that they can see this,” he said.
Zheng from Fujian Province in China was in New York on business. This was the first time he’d ever seen a Falun Gong parade, and he was impressed. “The costumes are great and everyone is so full of energy,” he said.
Zheng heard about Falun Gong over 10 years ago, but he said the event taught him more about the practice. “It is great there are so many practitioners here and the parade is so big,” he said. “I will share my videos with my friends so that they can know the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are good and that we cannot blindly believe what the CCP says.”
Universal Values
Jia, who came to the United States many years ago, was happy to see Falun Dafa practitioners in the parade. Local resident Liu said he saw practitioners’ parades every year. “Falun Gong tells people to be good citizens. So many people practice it and so many countries support it. It is only suppressed in China. We need to let the CCP know it’s wrong,” he said.
Chen moved from Guangdong Province in China many years ago and sat on a small bench to watch the event. “I support Falun Gong because the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are universal values,” he remarked. “From history we know this totalitarian regime suppresses different voices of any kind. Why have so many people fled China? If China was doing so well with freedom, people would go back instead of come here.”
Another local resident Lin said she’s seen similar marches in the past, but this one was special. “I felt very comfortable. I feel positive energy,” she added.
Spreading the Information
Li said the teachings of Falun Gong are wonderful. “I have several thoughts after watching the parade today. First of all, Falun Gong is great and such an event on Eighth Avenue is very good for our community. Second, many Chinese people are still afraid of the CCP even after they are here in the US. This march will help them know what is going on and be brave,” he said.
Another resident, Zi Fu, thanked Falun Gong practitioners for their efforts and offered to help distribute materials. “I absolutely oppose the CCP because it’s inhuman. What’s happening in China is terrible and I have to help those who are suffering,” he explained.
Learning the Facts
Two police officers on duty were happy to see the march. They said the event was peaceful and beautiful.
One of the officers thanked practitioners for their message. He said it was unfortunate that such a practice rooted in traditional values is being persecuted in China and that practitioners are even killed for their organs. He knew communism had brought endless tragedies and would read more in the Epoch Times about it.
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