(Minghui.org) On April 25, 1999, approximately 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners traveled to Beijing to appeal to the regime's leadership after practitioners in Tianjin were illegally arrested for their belief.
The Tianjin practitioners were released following the peaceful appeal, but three months later on July 20, 1999, Jiang Zemin, then head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), launched a nationwide persecution campaign against Falun Gong practitioners that continues to this day.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the April 25 appeal, Falun Gong practitioners across the world have held events and raised awareness of the CCP's persecution, especially the state-sanctioned organ harvesting from imprisoned practitioners.
UK: Protesting the CCP's Persecution Outside the Chinese Embassy
Falun Gong practitioners in the UK continued their ongoing protest of the persecution and held a candlelight vigil outside the Chinese embassy in London. They raised awareness of the brutalities taking place in China and called on the Party to stop it.
Ms. Gao, a Falun Gong practitioner, meditates outside the Chinese embassy in London to protest the CCP's persecution. Practitioners began the peaceful protest at that location in June 2002, and have continued every day since then.
Falun Gong practitioners protest outside the Chinese embassy in London on April 21, 2019.
Practitioners Xie Weiguo and Yu appeal outside the Chinese embassy in London on April 21, and call for the CCP to end the persecution.
Practitioner Lilach talks about Falun Gong and the persecution to passersby, who signed the petition calling for an end to the atrocities.
Sweden: Rally Outside the Chinese Embassy Despite Harassment
Falun Gong practitioners gathered outside the Chinese embassy in Stockholm on April 26, 2019. They held large banners, did the Falun Gong exercises, and raised awareness of the CCP's persecution.
Practitioners do the Falun Gong exercises outside the Chinese embassy on April 26.
The Chinese embassy's loud music interference caught the attention of many passersby, who wanted to know more about Falun Gong.
The embassy played loud music in an attempt to interfere with the practitioners' gathering. The practitioners were not deterred but continued their efforts to raise awareness about the atrocities committed by the CCP. Many people stopped to learn about what is taking place in China and got to know more about Falun Gong and the true nature of the CCP.
Police officer Niklas Lindqvist is indignant at the Chinese embassy's interference in the practitioners' rally with their loud music. He wished to appeal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the embassy's interference in a legal public assembly.
Practitioners raise awareness on Coin Square next to the Royal Palace in central Stockholm.
France: Rally Outside the Chinese Embassy in Paris
Falun Gong practitioners held a rally outside the Chinese embassy in Paris on April 25, 2019. They also gathered on the Champ de Mars to raise awareness of the persecution. Radio France International covered the event and interviewed practitioners.
Rally outside the Chinese embassy in Paris on April 25, 2019
Chair Hanlong Tang of the French Falun Dafa Association speaks at the rally.
Harold King of Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting speaks at the rally.
Syrian journalist Ferrosi signs the petition against the persecution.
Reporter Jan Vandermade of Radio France International interviews Hanlong Tang.
Falun Gong practitioners do the exercises on the Champ de Mars.
Screenshot of Radio France International website
Passersby read the Falun Gong posters on Human Rights Square in Paris.
Practitioners perform the Falun Gong exercises.
Netherlands: Rally Outside the Chinese Embassy in The Hague
Falun Gong practitioners held a rally outside the Chinese embassy in The Hague, Netherlands on April 25, 2019 to commemorate the April 25 peaceful appeal.
Rally and performing the Falun Gogn exercises outside the Chinese embassy in the Netherlands
Practitioners gathered at the Binnenhof, the legislature building, in the afternoon and raised awareness of the persecution to the tourists. They also collected signatures on a petition against the persecution.
Relevant articles in Chinese: Sweden; France; and Netherland.
Category: April 25 Events
