(Clearwisdom.net) July 21, 2007 was the hottest day in the history of Taipei, with a high of 101 degrees . However, one thousand Falun Gong practitioners marched on the streets for two hours. With calm smiles, they marched to tell people about the benefits of Falun Gong and to call for an to the persecution in Mainland China.
Former head of the CCP Jiang Zemin launched the persecution of Falun Gong on July 20, 1999. Since then, parades and candlelight vigils have been held around the world on July 20 every year to mourn the Falun Gong practitioners who have been tortured to death and call for the end of the persecution.
July 21 happened to fall on a Saturday this year. The parade started from Chong He Park in Taipei. A float led the Divine Land Marching Band, consisting of 250 practitioners, and a flag alignment. They passed through many busy streets and parks.
Spectators Fascinated
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The Divine Land Marching Band, dressed in blue uniforms, fascinated the spectators. |
Banners that read "Call for Conscience. Stop the Persecution" were carried at the front of the parade. The steadfast and solemn statements stood out on the streets, and the attention of the spectators was focused on the human rights violations across the Taiwan Strait.
The Divine Land Marching Band played "Falun Dafa Is Good" and other music. The band members' uniforms were soaked with sweat during the two-hour parade, but nobody complained or stopped to take a rest.
An elderly gentleman distributed fliers to the stores along the parade route, accompanied by his wife. He kept walking and didn't rest or drink water. It was very touching to see him.
Spectators Admire the Divine Land Marching Band
The spectators surrounded the band when it was playing the last song at the gate of Chong He Park. They took pictures of the band repeatedly. One man took a picture of his baby in front of the "Falun Dafa" banner.
By seven in the evening the temperature had dropped. Falun Gong practitioners formed the word "Remember" and the number "3064" with their candles. This was the number of Falun Gong practitioners who have been confirmed to have died in the persecution. However, the actual toll is believed to be much higher than the official statistics.
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Three thousand and sixty-four are known to have died from the persecution. |
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Candlelight vigil |
One thousand practitioners sat on the square in the park. Everyone held a lotus lamp or light stick. When the memorial concert started, it looked like a sea of light. More than one thousand hearts were saddened by the persecution.
Touching Candlelight Vigil
The concert started with the song "Candle Light" by Divine Performing Arts. The compassionate song created a solemn atmosphere.
One woman broke into tears holding a picture of Sun Lianxia, a victim of the persecution. Ms. Sun was a doctor in Dalian, Liaoning Province. She died at age fifty in the Dalian Forced Labor Camp on Jan. 16, 2001. She had held a hunger strike for 26 days to protest the persecution, but she died as a result of barbarous force-feeding.
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A Falun Gong practitioner holds a picture of Sun Lianxia, a victim of the persecution. |
Several politicians and representatives of human rights groups came to show their support at the candlelight vigil and condemned the persecution. Political commentator Lin Baohua has not missed a single July 20 activity in the past eight years. He said he hoped that the memorial wouldn't be needed next year.
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Several politicians and representatives of human rights groups showed their support and expressed their hope for an end to the persecution. |
