(Minghui.org) America greeted its extended Labor Day weekend on September 3, 2012. Falun Gong practitioners in Chicago made use of this long weekend to introduce Falun Gong's benefits and raise awareness about the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of Falun Gong. Besides continuing their weekend activity at their usual information display site in Chinatown, they also participated in the Labor Day Parade in Wheaton, west of Chicago.

The Falun Gong group's float decorated with lotus flowers

Wheaton is named the healthiest of Chicago's largest suburbs, with top-ranked schools and a nationally ranked library.

Falun Gong practitioners provided the only Chinese entry in the parade, and it was the first time they participated in this parade. A large “lotus flower” float led the contingent. In the center of the huge pink lotus flowers was a celestial maiden dressed in pink who smiled and waved to the spectators. Several Falun Gong practitioners in exercise suits of different colors demonstrated the exercises. Many spectators praised the float and took photos and videos.

Right behind the float were banners reading “Falun Dafa Is Good” and “Stop the Persecution of Falun Gong.” Then came the waist drum team in blue and gold costumes. The resounding drums won enthusiastic applause from spectators.

Many spectators thanked the Falun Gong group for bringing traditional Chinese culture to their neighborhood. They also showed sympathy for Falun Gong practitioners suffering persecution in China and supported the practitioners' efforts to call for an end to the persecution. People from Wheaton and surrounding cities signed the petition to oppose the persecution and asked to learn more about Falun Gong. When one woman heard of the Chinese Communist regime's atrocities of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners, she thought it was unbelievable that such evil exists in this world. She signed the petition and told a practitioner sincerely, “Keep it up! I'll pray for you.”