United States: Grand Parade Demonstrates the Grace of Falun Dafa in Los Angeles, California

On March 3rd, 2007, nearly two thousand Falun Gong practitioners and people from all walks of life from the US, Canada, Mexico, France, Britain, Germany, Russia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao gathered in downtown Los Angeles to hold a rally and parade to demonstrate the grace of Falun Dafa, call for an end to the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong and support nineteen million Chinese quitting the CCP and its affiliated organisations. The magnificent parade caught the attention of many passers-by. People learned the facts about Falun Gong and supported practitioners' effort to protest the persecution. American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) covered the event on the spot.

Divine Land Marching Band

Parade procession

The Float

Falun Gong exercise demonstration procession by Taiwanese practitioners

Waist drum team

Practitioners practise the exercises on Human Rights Square in front of Los Angeles City Hall in the early morning

The weather was nice with sunshine. The parade started from Human Rights Square in front of Los Angeles City Hall, moved along Main Street, and passed by Chinatown. The parade lasted for two hours. The theme consisted of three sections: the wide spread of Dafa, protesting the persecution, and Nine Commentaries and quitting the CCP.

The parade was led by the two hundred member Divine Land Marching Band. They were followed by the Falun Dafa banner team, exercise demonstration team and large lotus float. Behind the banner exposing the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong were one hundred lady Falun Gong practitioners with white clothing holding wreathes to commemorate those practitioners tortured to death in China. Then it was the procession of supporting the wide spreading of Falun Dafa, followed by the waist drum team to celebrate nineteen million withdrawals from the CCP. The parade concluded after returning to human rights square.

The grand parade caught the attention of mainstream media. ABC dispatched photographers to take footage of the parade.

Mr. Li Youfu of the Falun Dafa Association Los Angeles said that he recently received letters from many organisations. They expressed their support of Falun Gong and highly praised practitioners' courage of protesting the persecution. "More and more people recognise the evil nature of the CCP and the grace of Falun Dafa."

More and more people know the facts about Falun Dafa

The parade passed by Chinatown. Many Chinese people stood on the sidewalk. Some smiled towards the procession, some praised the procession, and those knowing the fact condemned the CCP's atrocities. The Divine Land Marching Band and large lotus float were very welcome. Ms. Zeng from Hong Kong said that she liked the music, especially the melody of the band, and would join the band if possible. "The parade is wonderful. I wish to know more about them and Falun Gong."

In front of a garment unit in Chinatown that is closed on Saturday, several ladies from Guangzhou stood at the entrance and watched the parade. A lady told the reporter, "I am happy to see that Falun Gong practitioners can parade freely in the United States. There are many people in my hometown practising Falun Gong. I hop that they can practise freely in the near future."

Mr. Li, who recently came from China, said that he was sympathetic and supported Falun Gong practitioners for their suffering. Regarding the CCP's slandering of the practitioners' protest as "getting political". Mr. Li said, "It is the CCP's slander. Good is good and evil is evil. Falun Gong practitioners are only persisting in their own rights of practising the exercise and belief. I believe one can see the truth in the long run."

A couple of tourists from Germany praised the parade and said that many Germans know about Falun Gong and the CCP's brutal persecution of Falun Gong. Germany passed through the Nazi's time and many Germans support Falun Gong practitioners' effort against the persecution and hope the persecution will end as soon as possible.

Western practitioners in the parade: Coming from far away to call for an end of the persecution

In the parade, many were western practitioners who started practising Falun Gong after the persecution was initiated in 1999. Amir from Iran has practised Falun Gong for six years. His biggest wish is to have more people, including those in his hometown, to know the grace of Falun Dafa. He said practising Falun Gong made him healthy and energised. Currently in Iran many people practise Falun Gong. Amir said, "The CCP attempts to eliminate Falun Gong. But the fact is more and more people have begun to practise Falun Gong during the last seven years. It just shows the evil nature of the CCP. I believe more and more people will understand the grace of Falun Dafa."

Charles from Long Island, New York, wearing a yellow exercise costume, looked great under the sunshine. He is a fitness coach and loves Qigong. Two and a half years ago, he learned Falun Gong. He said, "Falun Gong is the best. I found what I need."

Gina, a cook from New Zealand, said that she has practised Falun Gong for three years. Now she feels more strength and more clear-headed. She said that her brother and sister practise Falun Gong. Her whole family likes Falun Gong very much. She flew here from the other side of the world to help end the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.