(Minghui.org) The grand Independence Day parade was held on Constitution Avenue in Washington DC, on July 4, 2013. Tens of thousands of spectators from across the country and overseas gathered to watch.

Falun Gong was again invited to participate and provided beautiful presentations with the Tian Guo Marching Band from New York, the Dragon Dance group from Washington, DC and a beautiful float. The Falun Gong contingent was warmly received with applause and cheers from the crowds.

Falun Gong practitioners participate in Washington, DC's Independence Day Parade

Tian Guo Marching Band

Falun Gong float

Dragon Dance group

Nearly a hundred groups participated in the parade with a wide variety of entries including floats, bands, dances, horse-riding, honored guests, and performances from show groups of various cultural backgrounds. The parade was truly a spectacular sight.

Many areas have their own Tian Guo Marching Band, including San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan and more. The New York band was established in 2005, with 150, mostly Chinese, members. All are Falun Gong practitioners.

The Tian Guo Marching Band was dressed in ancient Chinese costumes. They performed a number of pieces composed by practitioners such as “Falun Dafa is Good”, “Triumph”, as well as “America the Beautiful”.

Their magnificent performance was a popular attraction for the spectators, Western and Chinese alike. Some citizens from mainland China shared that they'd never seen anything as magnificent as the Falun Gong procession back in China, and rushed to the float to take photos.

Two visiting Chinese scholars said that since they left China and began to read the world's free press, they had gained a clearer understanding about Falun Gong and the persecution in China. They were deeply disturbed by the brutality of the persecution.

http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2013/7/5/美首都国庆游行-法轮功团体再展风采-276285.html

Category: Parades & Other Community Events