Between 12th and 18th of July, many Swedish Falun Gong practitioners marched 260 km to Stockholm. There, between the 18th and 20th of July, we had a parade, held a press conference, and had a 48-hour candlelight vigil at the Chinese Embassy. This was to commemorate all those who in the past two years since the19th of July, 1999 have suffered as a result of the Chinese Government's cruel persecution of Falun Gong.
Support from people
The "SOS Urgent Rescue" march for the support of our fellow practitioners in China, which started in the city of Falun on 12th July, finished in Stockholm on the 18th of July at 11 am. Directly afterwards, we started a parade through central Stockholm. The SOS march, as well as the parade, attracted the attention of passing traffic. People in cars honked their horns and people in buses waved at us in support. Many people had read about the SOS march in the newspapers. When handing out SOS Urgent Rescue flyers to people, we got remarks like: "Have you really walked so far?!", "Well done!", "It is terrible what is happening in China!", "Don t give up!", "We support you!"
Demonstration and Press Conference at Mynttorget (a square in the centre of Stockholm, close to the government offices)
The parade went through a warm and rainy Stockholm. When we arrived at Mynttorget the rain partially ceased and many people gathered around us when we showed the Falun Gong exercises. Quite a few journalists came to do interviews. Tourists as well as locals were curious and some took pictures. Most people took our Falun Gong flyer and our SOS Urgent Rescue flyer.
We held a press conference and read out a letter to the prime minister of Sweden from the Nordic Falun Dafa Association. Two members of parliament, Harald Nordlund and Helena Bargholtz, gave speeches. We were very happy that our vice prime minister, Lena Hjelm-Wallén, came to give a supportive speech in which she said that the Swedish Government needs to do more in order to make China respect human rights. We handed over a box with nine thousand signatures in a petition to the EU. Several members of parliament had also sent letters, which we read aloud. Two Falun Gong practitioners gave speeches as well. One male veteran practitioner who had participated in the SOS march said in his speech that, "I am not exaggerating by saying that the persecution of Falun Gong in China at present, is the worst crime in human history." One female practitioner who read out a letter to the press, which she had sent to a Swedish newspaper, ended by saying; "We can not ignore the crimes committed by China, just because of the great distance. It is the same heart that is beating over there as here, and the same soul that is breathing".
48-Hour Candlelight Vigil
In the evening we marched to the Chinese Embassy where, at 9 pm, we started our candlelight vigil by sending forth righteous thoughts. Thereafter, we took turns sitting, day and night, in front of the Embassy with pictures of some of the victims killed in China and banners stating "Stop Persecution in China" and "Release the Falun Gong practitioners in China". There was also a second 48-hour candlelight vigil and spreading of information about Falun Gong and the persecution in China, on a square in the centre of the city. After these two days and nights many, many Stockholm residents as well as some tourists knew much more about the truth. On Friday the 20th, three practitioners went to the Chinese Embassy to hand over our letter of appeal. The Chinese official at the gate told them that they had special instructions concerning Falun Gong and that there was nobody who could receive our letter.
Some comments from local people
On Friday afternoon one young man in a Seven Eleven store, who had seen Falun Gong practitioners in yellow T-shirts pass by many times, told two practitioners: "It is very terrible what is happening in China. A government that has not based the rule of the country on truth, is very fearful of something that comes along with the truth and is able to open up peoples minds."
On Friday afternoon on the city square, one elderly lady came up to us with flowers, which she had gathered and put them on the ground next to our banners and signs. She had also been to our candlelight vigil outside the Chinese Embassy. She was very sad about what is happening in China.
The SOS March and candlelight vigils appear to have been a road to people's hearts. Many people have been giving Falun Gong their support and want to know more about Falun Gong and the situation in China.
Category: Rallies & Protests
