(Clearwisdom.net) On July 21, 1999, I went to a local Fa-study group as usual after work, and learned that some practitioners from different cities and counties had been illegally arrested. We also learned that many practitioners had gone to Changchun City to talk to the provincial government officials and clarify the facts to them about Falun Gong. I decided to take the last long-distance coach to Changchun that evening with two other practitioners.

Practitioners brutally beaten by police

I arrived in Changchun at around 5:00 a.m the following morning, and set off for the government offices. There were many practitioners waiting in front of the government building when I arrived. They had lined up up along the roadside and left a walkway for pedestrians to pass. No officer came to question or try to stop us, and everyone was waiting quietly in line.

Several coaches suddenly pulled up at around 9:00 a.m., and a number of police officers rushed out and ferociously beat and physically abused practitioners. They forcibly dragged them onto the coaches. Some practitioners’ clothes were torn and their belongings were trampled on and broken. I saw some practitioners standing hand in hand, and I could hear some repeatedly reciting the Fa.

I was beaten and taken onto a coach. An elderly couple in their 60s were also there. The husband told the driver and the police that he used to be paralyzed and was bedridden for years. He said, “Falun Gong gave me a second life. Falun Dafa is good!”

Practitioners maintained a high standard of moral behavior

We were taken to the Changchun Stadium, which was already full of practitioners. There were literally thousands of practitioners sitting on the concrete floor of the stadium. The practitioners were very quiet, polite and orderly, sincerely wanting the government officials to listen to the facts about Falun Gong and release the arrested practitioners. Some practitioners were reading Master's teachings and some were sitting in meditation. The police stood aside, chatting and smoking. Some practitioners gave their own plastic mats to the police, so that they could rest.

Several mobile food carts pulled up at around noon. Some practitioners bought bread and a drink and then handed them to other practitioners. Later, some practitioners used plastic bags to collect the trash from practitioners and pick up the cigarette ends that were left on the ground by the police. When I went to the restroom, people were waiting in an orderly line, while female officers sat on the chairs outside the restroom and chatted with each other. Several young practitioners were also helping to keep the stadium tidy.

Falun rotating in the sky

It was a very clear and sunny day on July 22. Most practitioners sat on the concrete floor and some were studying Master's teachings, while others did the exercises. Although we sat there for six to seven hours, I didn’t feel tired, nor did I get hot in the blazing sun. There was a soft gentle breeze blowing towards us, letting us feel cool. However, the police were soaked with sweat and kept having to drink water. I knew that revered Master was taking care of us.

At around mid-day, some practitioners suddenly started clapping and were looking excitedly towards the sky. I was studying Master’s lectures at the time, and when I looked up, I saw something round, bright and dazzling like the sun rotating quickly in the sky and flying towards us. It was a Falun. With tears in my eyes, I started to clap loudly. The police on the scene also witnessed this spectacular display.

Chinese Communist Party starts the persecution of Falun Gong

Many fully armed police officers ran into the stadium at around 3:00 p.m. and surrounded the practitioners. They then began herding us on to the coaches outside. Loudspeakers in the coaches broadcast news of the Chinese Communist Party's decision to begin the persecution of Falun Gong.

There was torrential rain that night, with fierce gales and thunder and lightning, as the skies opened. Many trees and telephone poles were blown down. Communication signals were interrupted and television signals were lost.

When I look back to July 22, 1999, the rationality, peace and harmony that practitioners showed, and the spectacular scene of Falun rotating in the sky, it is as if it only happened yesterday.