(Clearwisdom.net) Eight years ago, on "April 25," 1999, thousands of Falun Gong practitioners peacefully appealed to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) central government. As the first-ever challenge to the notoriously repressive regime, the nonviolence and rationality of the appeal shocked the world. During the past eight years, Boston practitioners have been tirelessly clarifying the truth of the persecution to the public. On April 25, 2007, Boston practitioners participated in a community event in which they once again clarified the truth of the persecution and, in particular, highlighted the historic April 25, 1999, appeal.

On April 25, a health expo was held at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. Local practitioners participated along with 30 other groups. This is the fourth time that practitioners have participated in this annual expo. The practitioners displayed Falun Gong truth-clarifying materials, played the exercise instruction video, demonstrated the exercises, offered on-site free exercise instruction as well as a lotus flower-folding workshop. Their efforts were well-received.

The practitioners' booth was located at a very prominent location and was always surrounded by people who wanted to learn about the truth of the persecution, to learn the exercises, or to learn how to fold paper lotus flowers. Deb Cohen of UMB told the practitioners, "I noticed that your booth had so many visitors. I also want to learn about Falun Gong."

Ajay Gupta is a Yoga teacher and had an information booth nearby. When he had time, he watched the practitioners' exercise demonstration and tried to copy the movements. After the expo closed, he came to the Falun Gong booth to ask for practice site information and said that he wanted to learn the exercises.

It was the first time that Chinese international student Mr. Feng had encountered Falun Gong practitioners. He asked many questions which had puzzled him for a long time. The practitioners answered his questions one by one, including questions about taking medicine. The practitioners told him that many practitioners become very healthy by practicing the Falun Gong and thus no longer need to take any medicine. Mr. Feng said that he would let his family members know all that he had learned.

Schoolteacher Adidi had read some negative reports put out by the Chinese Communist Party about Falun Gong and thus had been unwilling to believe the anything about the persecution or the truth of the practice. During this expo he had a chance to chat with practitioners. After his concerns were dissolved, he was pleased to learn to fold paper lotus flowers.

Gregory J. Benefit, an RN, came to the Falun Gong booth three times to ask questions such as, "What is Falun" and "Why did China (the Chinese Communist regime) ban the practice?" After he learned about the persecution, he asked for information on local practice sites and condemned the CCP atrocities.