(Minghui.org) The Mayor of Szeged invited the Tian Guo Marching Band to perform in the annual National Day Parade on August 21 and in the Equestrian Theater that afternoon.

Before the parade began, passersby had the opportunity to see the band members do the Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa) exercises together.

Some practitioners handed out fliers during the exercises and as the band marched through the streets.

The fliers had information about Falun Gong, the persecution in China since 1999, and the forced organ harvesting, mainly from jailed Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Members of the Tian Guo Marching Band doing the Falun Gong exercises before the parade.

Spectators watch and listen to the band perform.

People sign a petition demanding an end to the Chinese Communist Party's forced organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners.

Dismayed to learn about the brutal crime of organ harvesting as they watched the peaceful exercises, Mr. and Mrs. Tobias asked where they could sign the petition demanding an end to forced organ harvesting.

The couple had read about the persecution before and said it was unfair to a group of such good people.

“They (Falun Gong practitioners) are brave and strong and refuse to give up their belief. They deserve my support and my signature,” said Mr. Tobias.

Retiree Julane heard about the persecution for the first time, and it made her very upset. “How can that be? Is it possible for a government to do this to its own people?” She signed the petition to express her support for Falun Gong.

Maria walked along with the parading band to support her friend, a practitioner who was passing out fliers to the spectators.

“I have another reason besides goind with my friend. I like the music. It fills my heart with warmth and comfort,” she said.

Maria has read Falun Gong's main teachings, Zhuan Falun, and does the exercises from time to time. She said they make her feel more confident.

“Why is the regime persecuting Falun Gong? Everyone has the right to practice Falun Gong to improve oneself. No one can ban this,” she added as she signed the petition.