(Clearwisdom.net) On October 22, practitioners from across the central US marched in Chicago's Chinatown to protest the 12-year-long brutal persecution of Falun Gong in China. They also showed their support for the 104 million Chinese people who have renounced the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations.

It was a sunny and warm day in the Windy City. The march consisted of 3 sections: Falun Dafa Is Good; End the Persecution in China; Quit the CCP.

In the first section, a Tang Dynasty drum troupe performed “Falun Dafa is Good” while a group of practitioners demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises.

In the second section, practitioners displayed banners which read “Stop the Persecution of Falun Gong in China”, “CCP Harvests Organs from Living Practitioners,” etc. In the past 12 years, the communist regime routinely ransacked practitioners’ home, abducted and tortured practitioners, resulting in numerous tragedies. To date, the deaths of over 3,400 practitioners have been documented in the persecution, and tens of thousands are still being detained and tortured in labor camps, detention centers, and prisons.

The theme of the final section of the march was to support the phenomenon of the millions of Chinese who have quit the CCP. Many banners and signs in supporting 104 million people who have quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations were displayed, calling people to learn more about the true nature of the CCP and to join this grassroots movement.

Many Chinese spectators were surprised by the march. A older man accepted a flyer from a practitioner and asked: How many years now (persecution of Falun Gong)? The practitioner said: “Over 12 years now.” He smiled and encouraged the practitioner: “Keep your effort up!”

Mr. Liu is visiting the US for an academic conference, and he told a practitioner that he witnessed the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989, so he is very clear about the evil nature of the CCP. Upon seeing the march, he was deeply moved. “Overseas is so different than Mainland China,” he commented. He said that he would stay in US if possible so that he will not go back China where people have no freedom.

Three young Chinese students watched the march with great interest. When they learned that 80 million Chinese people died because of the CCP tyranny, one of the three was shocked. They asked if there was literature that they could read. So a practitioner recommended them to read the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party.

When learning that the parade was to protest the persecution of Falun Gong in China, a couple from Minnesota said: Great job! After learning about the persecution and facts of Falun Dafa, a young fellow said that he supported freedom of belief and understood happening in China.

After the march, a group of practitioners went to the Chinese consulate to protest. A lady whose job is motion picture design was attracted by practitioners’ peaceful exercise demonstration. She took many photos of the site. She said that she came out to take some scenic photos and found the protest and practice scene by surprise. She was very curious about everything. During her conversation with a practitioner, she said that she supported practitioners’ peaceful protest and was glad to learn about what is happening in China.