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Austria: As the Persecution Enters Its Fifth Year, Practitioners Hold Parade in Vienna

July 21, 2003

(Clearwisdom.net) Dafa practitioners from various places in Austria and Slovakia held an SOS parade in Vienna. The parade passed through scenic spots where tourists gathered in Wiener Staatsoper, Hofburg, Heldenplatz and Stephanskirche. A lot of passersby read the characters on the banners and asked for materials one after another to understand more. There were even some Chinese tourists who were surprised to see so many Falun Gong practitioners and banners such as "Global trial against Jiang". When people in the parade arrived at Stephanskirche, various activities took place in the city centre, including Falun Gong exercise demonstrations, a musical performance and a Chinese calligraphy demonstration.

Six Falun Gong practitioners wearing traditional Chinese costumes demonstrated Falun Gong exercises. The beautiful and peaceful demonstration attracted many people's attention and some tourists took photos. This was accompanied by a voiceover, which made many people wonder how such a peaceful cultivation practice could be persecuted so severely. Many people signed their names on the petition to release Falun Gong practitioner Xiong Wei, and wished the practitioners well. It suddenly rained for a couple of minutes in the afternoon. One passerby who expressed his support for us took off his long scarf without hesitation and covered up those signature letters and truth-clarifying materials, heedless of getting wet himself. One Chinese person from the Mainland said that many people in China in their hearts understood Falun Gong practitioners are innocent and some policemen that he knew are not willing to persecute Falun Gong practitioners anymore.

A band composed of Austrian Dafa practitioners held an outdoor concert in Stephanskirche. Their original material included songs clarifying the truth about the persecution in China.

Source: http://clearharmony.net/articles/200307/13940.html