France: Exposing the Persecution Against Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party

On November 30th Falun gong practitioners went to Lyon, the second largest city in France, to tell people about Falun Gong and the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) brutal persecution against people who believe in Falun gong's principles, “Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance”.

The Divine Marching Band playing in Comedy Square	Promoting Falun Gong in Comedy Square

Tang Hanlong, the Chairman of the French Falun Gong Association, giving a speech	The parade with the Divine Marching Bank taking the lead

Lyon is in the south of France and was also the scheduled venue for a recent summit between Europe and China. This time, the CCP unilaterally postponed the Summit using the excuse that the French President was going to meet with Dalai Lama in Poland. However, Falun Gong practitioners from different places had arranged to travel to Lyon to raise awareness about the human rights abuses their fellow practitioners in China are suffering so they followed through with their plans and held events in Lyon.

A French girl pledged her support for Falun Gong	Ms Suzanan and her friends were happy to encounter Falun Gong practitioners

Demonstrating Falun Gong exercises in City Hall Plaza	The Divine Marching Band performs in City Hall Plaza

The assembly was scheduled to start from Comedy Square where the Summit between Europe and China should have been held. The European Divine Marching Band played several pieces of music and the number of people watching was slowly growing.

Tang Hanlong, the Chairman of the French Falun Gong Association made a speech. First of all, he told the audience what Falun Gong was: “Falun Gong is a way of cultivation based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance, according to which, practitioners can amend their own actions and enhance their moral standard. The reason why we are here holding the assembly is that this group of innocent people are being brutally persecuted by the CCP in China where Falun Gong practitioners are tortured and abused and even have their organs removed by the CCP. Falun Gong practitioners overseas are calling for justice from all walks of life so as to put an end to the evil persecution of these kind people.”

A parade began and the European Divine Marching Band lead the way closely followed by a procession composed of Falun Gong practitioners and other human rights groups. They were walking along the Avenue of the Republic of Lyon (Rue de la République) and then arrived at Republic Square (de la République). They passed by the Jacobin Square (Place des Jacobins), went cross the downtown area (Rue Edouard Herriot) and finally arrived at Trudeau Square (Place des Terreau) where the government of Lyon is located.

Many passers-by asked to learn the exercises

While distributing leaflets to passers-by, a French girl told a Falun Gong practitioner: “I am here especially to support you.” She was very angry at the persecution of Falun Gong by the CCP. She is a Qigong lover. On reading a piece of news that Falun Gong would hold an activity, she decided to come and offer her support.

Ms. Sizzana is a local resident in Lyon and also a Yoga enthusiast. She and her friends said what Falun Gong practitioners are doing is very good: “You should oppose the persecution and pursue freedom of belief.” On hearing a young Chinese practitioner tell her that Falun Gong is for cultivating “Truthfulness. Compassion and Tolerance” and is now being persecuted in China, a kind old French lady was deeply moved. With a French way of expression, she kissed this practitioner and then said: “You have done very good job. Keep up the good work.”