Germany: Falun Gong is Popular at the 'Peace Action' Event in Augsburg

Situated in southern Germany and with affluent traditional culture, Augsburg used to be one of Europe’s most important trade centre in ancient times. On July the 3rd, the World Unity Association of Augsburg held the Peace Action 2004 Event and Falun Gong practitioners were invited to participate.

In the famous Augsburg City Hall Square, more than ten organisations attracted a huge audience with information booths, colourful dances, costumes and art. Many people surrounded Falun Gong’s waist drummers to watch their rehearsal and applauded warmly.

The participants in the event then went on a parade around the city. The Falun Gong team stood out. Falun Dafa banners were followed by a lion dance. After that came a large drum leading the waist-drum team, which was followed by female fairy performers and dancers. Wherever they were, the audience always gave them warm applause and cheered with delight. Many people also took pictures or recorded films with their video cameras. The female practitioners in white clothing held photos of those practitioners persecuted to death by Jiang’s group in China, while male practitioners held banners high above their heads to show people the cruel oppression of Falun Gong and call for people’s moral support. Many people accepted leaflets, and came to know what is going on in China, but they wondered why the Jiang regime would launch a crackdown on such a peaceful group.

After the parade, practitioners started to demonstrate the five sets of Falun Gong exercises. Many people came to talk with practitioners and find out more. The front of the Falun Gong booth was packed and people asked lots of different questions. After looking at display boards illustrating the cruel torture of Falun Gong practitioners in China, many people took the initiative to sign their names in the petition signature book supporting the campaign to “Bring Jiang Zemin to justice”. Afterwards, practitioners were invited to perform the exercises and a Lotus Dance on the stage. They explained a bit about the exercises as well as the cruel persecution that Falun Gong has suffered in China. In the meantime, other practitioners were distributing flyers and the latest news about the Jiang regime's hiring of gunmen to shoot Falun Gong practitioners in South Africa.

Prior to the parade, it was drizzling, and later it began to rain hard. Practitioners sent forth righteous thoughts together and the weather cleared up at the beginning of the parade. It was then sunny to the end of the activity. This activity was attended by practitioners from both Germany and Austria. Some drove about 1,200 kilometres altogether to support this activity with little concern for the hardship, which deeply moved local practitioners.

The organiser of the activity, Ms. Hank, was pleased to see Falun Gong practitioners participating in the parade and contributing wonderful performances. She said, “I think it is important for Falun Gong practitioners to let many people know about the facts.”