United Kingdom: First Day of the 2004 Scotland Car Tour

After its launch by Member of Scottish Parliament Mike Pringle, UK Falun Gong practitioners’ 2004 Scotland Car Tour left Edinburgh and travelled to the city of Aberdeen. In Aberdeen, the Car Tour practitioners joined other UK practitioners for a large scale outdoor event to let more people know about the practice of Falun Gong and the brutal persecution that is happening in China. The day was bright and sunny and the city was full of people. Many people learned more about Falun Gong and some wanted to learn the exercises.

One group of Chinese students were very keen to talk with Falun Gong practitioners and already knew a lot about the persecution of Falun Gong. They were even aware of the recent mistreatment of Falun Gong practitioners by authorities in Paris who were put under pressure by Jiang Zemin’s gangster regime. One practitioner spoke to a Chinese lady who was heavily influenced by Jiang’s propaganda, which permeates every facet of Chinese society through the state-controlled media. This lady appeared to be unwavering in her negative view of Falun Gong. However, after speaking to one of the Car Tour practitioners, who personally suffered violent mistreatment at the hands of the Jiang regime, this lady changed her view on Falun Gong to the point that she actually left practitioners with some very supportive words of encouragement. The Dafa practitioners were very happy that this lady had seen the truth.

Before the Car Tour began, practitioners had sent information packages to many VIPs and officials. Whilst in Aberdeen they visited the local police headquarters and explained the facts about Falun Gong to the officers there. The officers had already contacted their colleagues in Edinburgh for information on Falun Gong before the activities in the city of Aberdeen that day. The Edinburgh Police had commented on Falun Gong’s excellent reputation. Police in the city of Aberdeen were left with a very favourable opinion of Falun Gong and were very interested in the materials exposing the persecution that practitioners left them. Practitioners will continue their Car Tour onto the next Scottish city tomorrow.