Austria: The European ”Coming for You” Choir Touched People’s Hearts at a Performance in Vienna

Falun Gong practitioners gathered in Vienna on the 19th of June 2004 to raise awareness of the ongoing genocide of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Earlier in the day, many politicians, human rights organisations and victims of the persecution demanded an immediate end to the human rights violations in China. Later in the afternoon in Stephansplatz, in the very heart of Vienna, dance, drama and music were performed to show the beauty of Falun Dafa as well as the evilness of the persecution in China. The European choir “Coming for You” sang harmoniously, touching the hearts of the listeners.

The performance at the Stephansplatz portrayed the history of cultivation practice and Falun Gong in China. The cultivation environment and practice sites that one could see all over China were depicted by group exercises. Peaceful practice sessions were interrupted dramatically by the depiction of police intervention and arrests. The former leader of China, Jiang Zemin banned the practice in 1999 when the number of practitioners exceeded the membership of the CCP. Scenes revealed the horrific reality of the persecution: a depiction of a common torture method from the labour camps and prisons where innocent Falun Gong practitioners are abused with beatings and shocks from electric batons. The crowds looked on silently and were visibly upset when realising the extent of the cruelty and brutality.

During the series of performances a lotus dance was performed, reflecting the beauty and compassion of Falun Dafa. Practitioners also performed their own music. The singer from the Swedish group 'Yellow Express' sang a song entitled “Walk On” and a German practitioner played a piece for solo flute.

At the end of the performance the European choir ”Coming for You” sang the song “Wei Ni Er Lai.” The idea for the choir was born out of the wish of Falun Gong practitioners outside China, who wanted to help the Chinese people see the truth behind Jiang’s lies by singing a song for them. Singers in the choir are not all professionals but their voices carry true compassion and warmth, that is transmitted vividly in the beautiful melody of the song. “Precious Chinese people, you know that the whole world says, wonderful Falun Dafa, Falun Dafa Hao”, the choir sang with their heartfelt voice and touched everybody’s heart.
Falun Gong practitioner Sinikka who sings soprano gave her view about the choir, “I see two things in it. Singing from the heart can touch other people and help them see the goodness in the world, another serious side is to let people know about the deception and injustice in a benevolent way.”

The members of the choir are from all over Europe. Coming to performances requires sacrifice and commitment, because the concerts may be thousand of kilometres away. However, the choir members feel that is extremely important to reach people with their song and tell them the truth about Falun Gong and the persecution in China. They want to stop this persecution and give hope for people’s future.