Spain: Celebrating World Falun Dafa Day in Alcala

On the 15th of May 2005, practitioners from Madrid went to Alcala de Hernares to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day, promote the practice and tell people about the persecution in China. Alcala is a historic city, which is listed as a world cultural heritage city by the United Nations. The University of Alcala is one of the oldest universities in Spain. When you set foot in Alcala, you can see cranes in twos or threes spreading their wings and cruising in the blue sky among white clouds, composing a beautiful scene.

Falun Gong practitioners learned that it was also St. Isidro’s Day, the protector of Madrid. A stage was erected in the square whilst drummers, a band and performers were busy preparing, tuning instruments and practising. The square was a hive of activity. The practitioners chose their spot and began the activities in celebration of World Falun Dafa Day.

The practitioners gathered at the centre of the square and prepared to set up photos of Falun Gong being practised all over the world on one side and those of the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners on the other. As soon as the first photo of the Falun Gong exercises was set up, people came to learn. When practitioners found out that many of the local people had not heard of Falun Gong, they were really anxious. However, they worked with each other in an orderly manner and took their positions. Some demonstrated the exercises, some distributed leaflets and some made speeches in front of the petition desk. The warm spring wind carried the Falun Dafa music of "Pudu" and Jishi" into every corner of the square, attracting groups of tourists and passers-by to come and find out more.

Just like the old, simple but elegant ancient architecture in Alcala, people in the city are honest and kind. Some shed tears when they saw the pictures of Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted. Some took out their purses to make donations. When they learned that Falun Gong does not accept donations, they eagerly asked how they could help practitioners.

The gentleman in the bottom left photo was blind. He came to the desk to sign the petition after hearing the broadcast. He signed his name under a practitioner's guidance and asked the practitioner to fill in his ID number and address for him. The brother and sister in the middle photo signed their names after having learned the truth about the prosecution of Falun Gong in China. The grandmother in the right photo told her granddaughter to sign her name.

A Cuban man, who saw the pictures and leaflet, told the practitioner that he also lived in a country under communist's authoritarian rule and was very clear about the communist party's brutality and evilness. He also said that the time for the communist party to collapse is not far away.

Almost all the children who passed by showed a special liking for the photos of Falun Gong being practised around the world and they looked for a long time.

After over six hours of celebrating and promoting Falun Dafa, the practitioners’ faces were shining and red with glowing health. Finally, the practitioners unfolded a banner inscribed with "Greetings! Master" and put their palms together to send greetings to Falun Gong founder Master Li Hongzhi. World Falun Dafa Day is on the same day as Master Li’s birthday.