France: Practitioners Hold a Parade in Paris to Celebrate World Falun Dafa Day

May 13th 2003 was the 11th anniversary of Master Li Hongzhi beginning to teach Falun Dafa to the public. It was also Master Li’s 52nd birthday and the fourth World Falun Dafa Day. To express their gratitude to Master Li and to let more people know about the goodness of practising Falun Dafa and the horrific persecution that is happening in China, French practitioners held parades in two downtown areas of Paris that are home to many Chinese people. Jiang Zemin has manipulated the state-controlled media in China to slander and spread lies about Falun Dafa. The French practitioners hoped that these activities could help the Chinese people to see through these lies and learn the truth about Falun Dafa. The activities were held on Sunday 11th May so that many people were not at work.

Practitioners cooperated well together to make the banners and they spent their own money on traditional costumes to wear for the dancing. Through sharing and communication, some practitioners understood very clearly the importance this parade and of telling the truth to the Chinese and French people. They printed Chinese and French flyers to introduce “World Falun Dafa Day” to the people of Paris.

The parade, followed by a decorated float and accompanied by the song “Falun Dafa is Good”, started off from Belleville around eleven thirty and headed towards Republic Square. Five practitioners, of different ages and nationalities wearing traditional Chinese costumes, demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises on the float. Following the float were female practitioners performing the “Lotus Dance” and the “Fan Dance”. At the rear of the parade some practitioners held banners and colourful flags, whilst others distributed leaflets on both sides of the parade. Some people from both Taiwan and China, who do not practise Falun Gong but are very supportive, also joined the parade.

Around three thirty in the afternoon, practitioners in Chinatown gathered to hold a parade in the thirteenth section of Paris, home to many Chinese people. During the parade, all practitioners pressed both of their hands together in front of their chests in the traditional Chinese gesture of Heshi to greet Master and wish Master a very Happy Birthday!

Wherever the parade went, the atmosphere was joyous and peaceful attracting the attention of many passers-by. We could see that people were happy to receive the leaflets. Many people asked where they could learn to practise the exercises and why the Chinese regime persecutes such a peaceful practice. Practitioners answered all their questions. One Chinese person said emphatically, “Jiang Zemin is not a human! He persecutes traditional cultivation practices, which have significant health benefits.”

There is one particularly interesting story from the parade. A practitioner offered a leaflet to a man who was watching the exercise demonstration but he refused. However, after some time, the man suddenly said, “I understand your exercise practice.” Later, he said again, “Your practice can make people relaxed, like Yoga or Tai Chi. You are all peaceful, right?” He then said, “I also know that the Chinese government persecutes you, like all dictators do, right?” The practitioner was very happy upon hearing what he said, and felt pleased that he had realised the truth.

The French International Broadcasting Station interviewed practitioners during the parade. Practitioners introduced “World Falun Dafa Day,” exposed the Jiang regime’s persecution of Falun Gong, which is based upon lies and brutality, and told people about the genocide lawsuit against Chinese dictator Jiang Zemin for his crimes against humanity.

Translated from Chinese at http://yuanming.net/articles/200305/20258.html