Germany: European Divine Land Marching Band performs in Cologne

On September 16th, 2007, the European Divine Land Marching Band performed in Germany’s famous tourist town, Cologne. Once spotted, the band made up of Falun Gong practitioners immediately drew a great deal of attention. The pieces they performed, including “Falun Dafa is Good”, “Ode to Joy”, “Fa-Drums and Trumpets Shake Ten Directions", were enthusiastically applauded by the local audience.

Falun Gong practitioners’ parade started from the Cathedral and made its way through the high street, lasting for about three hours. As the first formation of the parade, the Divine Land Marching Band immediately attracted attention with its orderly line-up and bright uniform. Tourists could not help snapping photos. As the parade progressed, more and more people were attracted by the music. Some waved their hands with the beat of the melodies. Some carefully read Falun Gong leaflets.

Having learned that the band was made up of Falun Gong practitioners, an American tourist said happily, “I know about Falun Gong. Many people in the US practice Falun Gong.” He also knew about the brutal persecution practitioners are suffering in China, hoping it would end soon.

The Cathedral in Cologne is a tourist hot spot. Tourists from all around the world, including many from China, come here everyday. Some Chinese tourists accepted Falun Gong leaflets from which they hoped to learn more about Falun Gong in a positive light. Some lingered in front of the information stands, reading the posters carefully and paying attention to the persecution in China. As soon as their buses got close to the parade, some Chinese tourists could not wait to snap photos of the parade in front of them.

Banners presented in the parade read “Stop persecuting Falun Gong practitioners, stop organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners”. Further banners exposed the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of Falun Gong in China. Falun Gong practitioners in white costumes held photographs of fellow practitioners who had been tortured to death. Their sober expressions marked their courage and determination to end the persecution, moving spectators. Having seen the performance, a German lady said, “I believe justice will win over evil. Good luck!”