(Clearwisdom.net) More than one thousand Falun Gong practitioners from around the world gathered on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on July 14, 2011. In the hot summer sun, they peacefully did the Falun Gong exercises and held a rally calling for collective efforts to end the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of Falun Gong in China. American congressmen and representatives from international organizations and non-governmental organizations attended the rally to show their support for Falun Gong. Local residents and tourists were moved by the stirring scene of the rally, permeated with an atmosphere of peace and justice. They expressed admiration for the principles of Falun Dafa – Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance – and for the impact of these principles in the world.

Lucy, who teaches at the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia, attends this activity to protest the persecution in Washington almost every July. She said, “We come here to tell more people about Falun Gong and stand up for the right of everyone to pursue Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. It has become a symbol of the efforts of overseas Falun Gong practitioners in their fight against the persecution. Actually, Falun Gong practitioners [around the world] do the same thing in their own countries. We have never stopped in the past 12 years, [and we will not stop] until the last day of the persecution.”

German Falun Gong practitioner Peter Sanftmann is in charge of the German branch of a Darfur international charity organization. He came to DC to support the Chinese Falun Gong practitioners who have lost their basic human rights. He said, “The people of the whole world should know that many people in China are being tortured and even lose their lives for their belief. The majority of people won't pay with their own lives for their belief or for others. It is Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance that gives Falun Gong practitioners in China courage and power to stay firm in their belief in the face of such brutal persecution.” Mr. Sanftmann believes that more and more people will treasure the values that have been such a positive influence on the world.

Shi Zhengtong from Taiwan became a Buddhist nun when she was younger. However, she didn't find her path to return to her origin until she read Zhuan Falun and started the cultivation practice of Falun Dafa. Her deteriorating health improved and she found heartfelt peace. What made a nun travel tens of thousands of miles to come to Washington? She replied, “It is a heavenly law that the good will be rewarded and the bad punished. When the Buddha Law of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is persecuted, Falun Dafa practitioners must get busy and tell people of the benefits of Dafa so that they will be able to tell good from evil. It is out of practitioners' compassion [that we come here].”

Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Gong is a professor at George Mason University. He pointed out, “When Jiang Zemin launched the persecution, he aimed at eliminating Falun Gong within three months. But 12 years have passed, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has revealed its evil nature over the course of the persecution and is at the edge of collapse. However, Falun Gong has spread around the world and brings hope to people. This in itself is a miracle. It is a manifestation of the power of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.” He added, “Many overseas Falun Gong practitioners are outstanding in their professions. You may want to read Falun Gong books and find out why these practitioners made their choices. I hope you will benefit from it, too.”

Bason Nadir is a tourist from Australia. He said, “It is captivating! It is so moving that these people, including the elderly and the young, coordinate so well in such hot weather, based on their belief.” Bason's friend who traveled with him was surprised that a group of people being persecuted could look so peaceful and dignified. “My heart echoes with the principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. It is what we should follow in our everyday lives.”

Ms. Zhu came to the States from Shanghai 20 years ago. Because of her busy life, she hadn't learned much about Falun Gong. But she was very moved by the peaceful and compassionate atmosphere of the rally. She said, “Everyone should have freedom of belief and should respect others' belief and right to express themselves.”