United Kingdom: Protesting the 12-year Persecution of Falun Gong at Trafalgar Square

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On July 16, 2011, Saturday, Falun Gong practitioners in the UK came to famous Trafalgar Square in London to commemorate the 12th anniversary of protesting the CCP's persecution. They wanted to help more people learn the facts about Falun Gong, and called on people from all walks of life together to stop the persecution. The event received attention in London, and had a positive response from the general public.

Falun Gong practitioners in the UK demonstrate the Exercises on Trafalgar Square in London and expose the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong

In addition to practitioners, other Falun Gong supporters took part in the event in the rain.

The venue was carefully arranged. A large banner that read “The world needs Truthfulness- Compassion-Forbearance" was set up. Some Falun Gong practitioners in golden costumes demonstrated the five sets of exercises. Nearby was a re-enactment of a CCP black jail exposed the brutal persecution. Around the four top sides of the black jail were banners with the words “Stop the Persecution of Falun Gong, 12 years’ persecution, 3,425 deaths", "Falun Gong Practitioners detained by the CCP are the world's largest number of prisoners of conscience, Two of every three torture cases in China described in a United Nations report are Falun Gong practitioners" and “Conduct public trials of Jiang Zemin, Luo Gan, Liu Jing, and Zhou Yongkang, the main culprits in the persecution of Falun Gong. " Four Falun Gong practitioners inside the black jail were re-enacting a scene, in which they were tortured by the CCP police.

Near the simulated prison were tall panels on which the names and portraits of Falun Gong practitioners who had been tortured to death were printed. Around four corners of the display panels many white paper lotus flowers were laid. Vivid and rich information about Falun Gong caught people's attention. Many people stopped to watch the demonstration of Falun Gong exercises and the simulated prison, and read the display boards, and many people solemnly signed the petition against the persecution.

People come to learn about Falun Gong
People actively sign the petition against the persecution of Falun Gong

The event started at noon with a press conference. On behalf of the UK Falun Dafa Association, Prof. Li Shao first made a speech, once again calling on the British people to understand the facts about Falun Gong, and to work together to stop the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. He said, "Falun Gong has been persecuted for 12 years. We hope that all governments around the world will help Falun Gong practitioners, so their families can be reunited and they will be able to practice their belief. The CCP authorities must immediately stop the persecution of Falun Gong."

Prof. Shao also welcomed and thanked Western people for their joining the effort of Falun Gong practitioners against the persecution. He said, "If people convey their voices to their governments, this is very important. This is a public event in a public place. People from all walks of life come here. These people will bring this information to their communities to help Falun Gong practitioners to regain their freedom."

MP: Calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong

David Burrows, MP has been supporting Falun Gong practitioners against the persecution for years. He once again wrote a letter showing his support this year. At the press Conference, a Falun Gong practitioner read his letter of support:

“I remain very concerned about the persecution of Falun Gong adherents, which I understand persists in the form of torture and ill-treatment in prisons, detention centres and labour camps. The figure from the United Nations of two out of three victims of persecution being Falun Gong practitioners highlights the targeted nature of these attacks. I join with the Falun Dafa Association in calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong and a respect for the human rights of freedom of belief, expression and association.”

Representative of Christian Solidarity Worldwide: The international community must send out a strong voice

Matthew Jones, speaking at the press conference

Matthew Jones, representative of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a human rights organization supporting religious freedom, also spoke at the press conference. He condemned the CCP for its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and other religious groups for such a long time, and pointed out that it should never have happened. He also urged the British people and international community to stop the CCP's trampling of human rights and religious freedom by exerting more pressure on the CCP.

He said, "Today, I urge Londoners, whether public or politicians and media people, to learn more about the real situation of China. If they understand the situation Falun Gong practitioners, Christians and others in China are in, I think that putting international pressure on the CCP will get more and wider support. The International community, including the UK, must also send out a strong voice, to make the CCP realize that what it does is not acceptable, it is in violation of the relevant international legal commitments that China should comply with, and the persecution must stop. Today, we want to send out a powerful message to the CCP authorities that the state of the (persecution of religious freedom) in China cannot go on, and the CCP must respect the rights of religious belief of every Chinese citizen."

"I know communism is just like that--to commit wrongdoing."

Jason Smith is a gardener living near London

Jason Smith, who lives not far from London, is a gardener. He had learned briefly about Falun Gong being persecuted by the CCP. This time he carefully read every Falun Gong information panel. He said: “ I don’t understand why they’re doing it, but I know communism is just like that-- to commit wrongdoing.People should know and be aware of what’s going on. Sign the petition and spread the word to help stop the persecution. Your event on Trafalgar Square is pretty good. This will get the message across.”

Scottish citizen: It’s going on for more than 12 years

David Simpson is a Scottish citizen who has been teaching English literature in France for 30 years. Together with Ms Catherine Upjohn, he recently returned and visited his family in Cambridge, UK. They saw the Falun Gong practitioners’ activity against the persecution before. Immediately, they both signed the petition and thought that the event being held at such a place of interest as Trafalgar Square was pretty good.

Mr. Simpson said,: “It’s been going on for more than 12 years. In fact, in my mind, it’s not just Falun Gong, but the whole people. It’s been 60 years at least. It’s a question of courage, political courage, for the western governments. We are aware that they are making deals and treaties on economic levels with governments that don’t deserve it. It’s the government that doesn’t deserve it, not the people.”

An Australian undergraduate student: I can’t believe it’s happening.

Cathy Hamilton working in the UK now is an Australian undergraduate student majoring in business management. This is the first time for her to come across Falun Gong at Trafalgar Square. She watched the demonstration of Falun Gong exercises and the re-enactment of CCP torture methods used in the persecution carefully for a long while.

She said that she was shocked at the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. She said: “Seeing this and listening to everybody, it breaks my heart. I can’t believe it’s happening. I’m shocked. It’s 2011, you are thinking that things like this have come to justice by now. I’m shocked that it’s still going on. People are just trying to benefit themselves to do meditation, but they are being persecuted. It’s so sad.”

An Algerian: The whole world needs to know about it (organ harvesting) and is should be sorted out immediately.

Amil Boudiaf , an Algerian living in London

After reading the Falun Gong information panels, Amil Boudiaf, an Algerian living in London, felt very sad. He came up to a Falun Gong practitioner distributing flyers to express his strong feelings. He thinks that the CCP has committed crimes against humanity.

He said: “Really shocked, I feel like I want to cry for these people. It’s very shocking to see people being tortured for freedom. This is very wrong. On the other side of the world, you cannot say what you think, because you are scared. The persecution has been 12 years, which is really long.”

He added: “I don’t understand why the government tortures people and what they kill people for. I’m not a Chinese, but I'd love to help. If there is anything I can do, I’ll do it, because we are human beings. The whole world will have to help. The whole world needs to know about it (organ harvesting) and is should be sorted out immediately. It’s a crime against humanity. It’s the whole world’s concern, not just about the Chinese. There is no way we can wait. Something is very wrong. If there is anyone believing in humanity, please come to Trafalgar Square and sign the petition supporting Falun Gong practitioners. It won’t cost you anything but will help them for their freedom. ”

On July 20, 1999, the CCP launched the persecution of Falun Gong, and it has become a most serious crime against humanity. Falun Gong practitioners around the world protest against the persecution and spread the facts. More and more people from the international community have begun to understand the facts about Falun Gong and the CCP's nature, and are actively joining the efforts of Falun Gong practitioners against the persecution.

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