(Minghui.org) April 25, 1999, is an important date for China and Falun Gong practitioners. 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, the 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 April 25 appeal, Falun Gong practitioners in Germany held a rally and group practice in five cities. They also protested the CCP's persecution and raised awareness about it it, including the state-sanctioned live organ harvesting atrocities in China.
Munich: Protesting the Persecution Outside the Chinese Consulate
Falun Gong practitioners from Bavaria held an event outside the Chinese Consulate in Munich. Many Chinese people who came to the consulate for business showed a friendly and polite attitude towards Falun Gong practitioners, although they did not accept the Falun Gong informational materials.
Protesting outside the Chinese Consulate in Munich and raising awareness of the persecution
Ms. Daniela Dascalu, who organized the event, continues to organize activities every week at the Chinese Consulate, to protest the persecution. She could be seen at that location for the past year. She took time off to participate in the event, hoping to get people's attention.
She said, “For me, the horror is not only because of the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, but for the past 20 years, the CCP has developed this persecution into its highest form.” She keeps on peacefully protesting outside the consulate and firmly believes that such protests will succeed.
Many children learn Falun Gong by watching the practitioners.
Frankfurt: Protesting Outside the Chinese Consulate
Protesting outside the Chinese Consulate in Frankfurt
Christoph Schaaf is a Falun Gong practitioner from Frankfurt and works in the legal department of an international bank. He warned those who participate in the persecution, especially the organ harvesting from living practitioners, that they will be brought to justice. He demanded to put an end to the persecution of innocent Falun Gong practitioners.
Dusseldorf: Advising the Consulate Officials to Quit the CCP
Falun Gong practitioners gathered across the Chinese Consulate in Dusseldorf and set up large banners and posters. Many Chinese lined up to enter the consulate for business. They watched the practitioners setting up banners and demonstrating the exercises. Some local residents passed by and paused to learn about the persecution.
Rally outside the Chinese Consulate in Dusseldorf
Passersby learn about Falun Gong and the persecution
A practitioner read an open letter to the consulate officials via a loud speaker. The letter called on the CCP to stop the persecution immediately, and urged the consulate officials to withdraw their membership in the Party.
The practitioners also demonstrated on the local well-known business street, Königsallee, to raise awareness of the persecution.
Berlin: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Is Good
Demonstrating the Falun Gong exercises in Berlin
Antonia, Filuza, and Katia are from Russia, but had resided in Germany for a long time
Antonia said, “The practice is very peaceful. It is our first time to hear about the persecution. It is hard to imagine that there is still such a thing happening in the 21st century - people are killed because of their belief. It is important to know that we can help stop it.”
“We feel that you are actively presenting yourself and sharing your views in accordance with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. This is very good. We feel that following the principles Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is very good.”
A man takes a photo with a practitioner
Hamburg: Raising Awareness of the Persecution
Protesting outside the Chinese Consulate in Hamburg
Falun Gong practitioners held a sit-in protest outside the Chinese Consulate in Hamburg for 20 hours on April 25, 2019. The afternoon was bright and sunny and brought many visitors to the area. Many people nodded to the Falun Gong practitioners when they passed, and greeted with thumbs-up to express their support.
Category: April 25 Events
