United States: Falun Gong Well-Received at Vietnamese Festival in San Jose

San Francisco Bay Area Falun Gong practitioners were invited to participate in the 11th annual Vietnamese Lunar New Year Festival held in San Jose on February 10th, 2007. It is the fifth year that Falun Gong practitioners participated in this grand occasion and gained great support from the host of the activity. Organiser Mr. Lai Dejin said that he knew that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) persecutes Falun Gong, and he admired Falun Gong practitioners' fortitude in the face of violence.

Spectators comment on Falun Gong marching band members' happy demeanour and wholehearted performance

Minghui School young practitioners perform a Sword Dance

Spectators watching Falun Gong performers

The Vietnamese Tet Festival is a traditional festival for the Vietnamese. Celebration activities are held annually at a bazaar centre. The Western-US Divine Land Marching Band composed of Falun Gong practitioners was invited to give a performance on the main stage on Saturday. Minghui School young practitioners performed a festive Red Ribbon Dance, Sword Dance, "Plucking Lotus Flowers" Dance and Falun Gong exercise demonstration. The audience gave them warm applause for their wonderful performances.

Vietnamese Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Li introduced the Falun Gong groups' performances. The sponsor, who was very supportive, led the Divine Land Marching Band as they circled the area while performing.

San Jose citizen Dwayne watched the performance of the Divine Land Marching Band, and commented that the performance was excellent. He thought the members of the marching band must have spent several years practising so as to give such a wonderful performance. When he learned that the marching band was only formed less than a year ago, he was amazed and immediately expressed his wish to join the band.

Gordan, who kept taking pictures, commented that all marching band members wore smiles and performed wholeheartedly, he had never seen such a special scene.

Gordan said he had read Falun Gong flyers, and had seen news about Falun Gong on TV. He said he knew that the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners and even killed them. He also said that he had seen the news on the Internet about the CCP's atrocity of organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners, and he declared that such practises must be stopped.

Organiser Mr. Lai Dejin commented that Falun Gong's programs were excellent, and the audience loved them. He hoped the practitioners would come again next year.