United States: Philadelphia Falun Gong Practitioners are Invited to Participate in the Caribbean Carnival Festival

The Third Philadelphia Caribbean Carnival Festival was held in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia on June 19, 2004. Hosted by the Philadelphia Multi-Cultural Carnival Association (PMCCA), this festival celebrates the traditional spirit of the Caribbean Carnival -- honouring life and freedom -- and attracts thousands of visitors every year. This is the second year that Falun Gong practitioners have been especially invited to participate.

Falun Gong exercise demonstration	Lion Dance	Fan Dance

The host of this event said that Falun Gong practitioners' outstanding performance last year had won extraordinarily good responses from the audience. Congressman Waters from Pennsylvania also hoped Falun Gong practitioners would participate again next year. He said that many people were talking about our performance last year, so they had extended the special invitation to us again.

Groups representing cultures from Caribbean countries as well as African, Asian, Latin American and South American countries participated in the parade. Falun Gong practitioners' group was unique among them. We brought to the audience the peaceful Falun Gong exercise demonstrations, the traditional Chinese Lion Dance, the Fan Dance and a waist drum performance. Banners imprinted with, "Falun Dafa" and "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance" were very eye-catching in the parade.

Falun Gong practitioner Yvette introduced the audience to Falun Gong's effect in maintaining health, and she also exposed the persecution against Falun Gong by Jiang's political group in China. After the Falun Gong exercise demonstration, the host praised us saying, "This is the multi-culture that we are talking about -- not only Caribbean culture, but also Chinese traditional culture. We welcome other cultures to celebrate freedom with us! Let's thank Falun Gong again for their wonderful performance!"

Every activity is an opportunity to clarify the truth, and it also creates more opportunities for the future. For example, it was after the host saw Falun Gong practitioners' outstanding performance at the New Year's "Mummer's Parade" in Philadelphia last year that he took the initiative to invite Falun Gong practitioners to participate in his parade. Also after the "Mummer's Parade," Falun Gong practitioners were invited to a celebration event hosted by a state senator, a state house representative and a police station.