(Minghui.org) To mark the 25th anniversary of their efforts to end the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution, Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong) practitioners in major cities in Ukraine held a series of events around July 20, 2024.
The persecution began on July 20, 1999, and continues to this day, with millions of practitioners in China still living in great danger. Through their activities, Ukrainian practitioners hope to garner support from the public and highlight the CCP’s violation of human rights.
Even though the war with Russia continues, many Ukrainians wish to learn more about these egregious human rights violations and show their support for practitioners.
Activities in Kiev
Kiev is the capital of Ukraine, and home to about three million people plus hundreds of thousands of people from other parts of the country due to the ongoing war.
Local Falun Dafa practitioners held events on July 14 and 20 on the city’s main street, Khreshchatyk. They displayed informational banners along with artwork from the Art of Zhen Shan Ren Exhibit, which consists of paintings by Falun Dafa practitioners around the world.
July 15 in Kiev was the hottest day of the summer, even in the shade, the temperature was over 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit). Practitioners decided not to cancel the event and persisted in honor of fellow practitioners in China. There were many passersby on Khreshchatyk that day, and they were able to learn about Falun Dafa and the persecution in China.
A young man stopped and carefully looked at the paintings from the Art of Zhen Shan Ren Exhibit and said he was very moved. He said he previously heard about the persecution of Falun Dafa in China. Now, thanks to the paintings, he learned that children are also suffering under the persecution, and he was even more struck by this. He said that this persecution is very unfair. He also said that practitioners are doing the right thing by telling people what is happening in China.
One woman was awed by how practitioners in China continue to stand up for their faith and the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance—Falun Dafa’s principles—under such dire circumstances. She said that their behavior is an example for all humanity and is very inspiring. “China has a communist regime and they believe in the ordinary man, but they should believe [in] God. As long as people have compassion, empathy and respect for each other, we will remain human and overcome any difficulties,” she said.
One man also said that he was very grateful to Falun Dafa practitioners and their activities, and was glad they exist in this world.
Event at a Park in Kharkiv
This major border city is bombed almost every day. Nevertheless, many peo
ple, young and old, continue trying to live a normal life.
There are also many Falun Dafa practitioners in the city who have practiced for many years. On July 19, they held an event in the park to mark the anniversary of their efforts to expose the persecution in China. Many Kharkiv residents expressed sympathy for practitioners in China, despite their own difficult situation.
People in Dnipro Appreciate Falun Dafa’s Values
Practitioners held an event in Dnipro on July 21 on the city’s embankment. Many signatures were collected on a petition to condemn the CCP’s human rights abuses. Some passersby chatted with practitioners for a long time, as they had many questions related to Falun Gong and the persecution.
Anastasia and Matilda moved from Donetsk Oblast to Dnipro, to escape the war. They learned about Falun Dafa for the first time. Matilda said she really liked the exercises and wanted to do them. After she learned about the persecution in China, Matilda said she protested it and signed a petition. She also approved of the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance that practitioners try to live by. “People should have patience and sincerity,” she said.
Nikita and Alexei also learned about Dafa for the first time. Alexei said watching practitioners do the exercises made him happy because now, in wartime, it’s rare to see people on the street getting together and doing some kind of useful practice. The practitioners described how practitioners in China are targeted for persecution, including the fact that they were used as a living organ bank for the CCP’s forced organ harvesting operations. “This is bad, abnormal, and not human,” Nikita said.
Alexei added: “I don’t understand why someone would cut up a living person like that, remove their organs and sell them. Something must be wrong with such person’s mind.”
Bringing Falun Dafa to Odessa
Odessa is a major city on the Black Sea, and local practitioners held events on July 13 and 14. Through these events, residents and tourists were able to learn about the persecution and how practitioners were being killed for their organs simply for persisting in their faith.
Practitioners demonstrated the exercises on July 13 in the center of Odessa, and told people about Falun Dafa. They explained how the practice stressed physical and moral cultivation, and how the CCP has been brutally suppressing practitioners for 25 years. They also handed out informational materials and small handmade lotuses.
Many passersby were shocked by the CCP’s persecution of a peaceful practice.
One man was surprised to learn that practitioners are volunteers. He was also struck by the fact that the practice is taught for free, despite the fact that it could provide great value to people’s lives. He said that these days everything is used to make money.
The exercises also attracted the attention of young people – they mimicked practitioners’ movements and took photos with them. They found it hard to believe that people in China were persecuted so much for having a righteous belief.
On July 14, another event was held in Odessa’s Shevchenko Park, where there is a regular Falun Dafa practice site. People walk through this park on their way to the sea and there are always many holidaymakers. People had the opportunity to learn about Falun Dafa and expressed their sympathy for practitioners in China.
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