(Clearwisdom.net) On May 16, Toronto Falun Gong practitioners held a "Journey of Fa-Rectification" parade to celebrate the 12th anniversary of Falun Dafa's public introduction. It was organized to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day after the performance and celebration activities held at Toronto City Hall Plaza on May 13, 2004.
It was a warm sunny day, and the sky was cloudless. The parade started at Nathan Phillips Square in front of Toronto's City Hall and went through the busiest areas of downtown and Chinatown, and it ended at the Provincial Assembly. Many people were able to see the parade along the way.
The parade consisted six groups with different themes:
The parade vividly narrated the history of Falun Gong from its beginning, spread, the persecution, to its popularity around the world.
Waist drum troupe
Live demonstration of torture
Commemorating practitioners who have died during the persecution |
Spectators |
Spectators |
Spectators |
Calling for an end to the persecution |
Thanking Canada for its support |
Thanking all kind-hearted people for their understanding and support |
Global trial of Jiang Zemin |
Symbolic trial of Jiang |
Tang attire dance
When practitioners rushed to cross streets to avoid blocking traffic, police on duty gave the sign of Heshi (pressing the hands together, a gesture often used by practitioners to greet people with respect) to express their appreciation. The police officers that led the parade were also very happy and waved to practitioners from time to time. At the end of the parade, they had their photos taken with the practitioners. The practitioners presented each of the police officers with a Falun Dafa T-shirt and a CD of the practitioners' music. They were very grateful and said that they were very happy to receive these souvenirs.
A Chinese artist participated in the New Tang Dynasty Chinese New Year Gala, and she learned the facts about Falun Gong through her contacts with performers who were practitioners. She was touched by the practitioners' kindness and compassion, as well as their peaceful appeals. She and her family came to participate in this celebration. The whole family walked with the practitioners from the beginning to the end of the parade. At the end of the parade, she offered the practitioners iced soybean milk drinks, which she had especially prepared for this parade. About 50 friends of Falun Gong formed the sixth group of the parade and showed their support to Falun Gong.
The parade lasted for more than one hour and concluded at the Ontario provincial government. Practitioners shouted in unison, "Greetings, Master!" and "Falun Dafa is a righteous way," and sang together "Falun Dafa is Good".
During the parade, CTV, one of Toronto's largest TV stations, NTDTV, Epoch Times, and other media outlets came to cover the event. In the evening of the same day, CTV broadcasted a clip of the parade, which showed the waist drum troupe and the float that demonstrated the torture of practitioners. The report was very positive and introduced Falun Dafa to many Toronto families.
Friends of Falun Gong group in the parade |
Policemen have their pictures taken with practitioners |
Practitioners sending greetings to Master |