United States: Falun Gong Wins Three Prizes at Korean Town Festival in Los Angeles

A large-scale parade in celebration of the 31st Korean Festival was held in Korea Town of Los Angeles on the afternoon of the 17th of September, 2004. The Korean Festival is to promote harmony between ethnic groups and Korean culture. It encourages communication and exchange between ethnic groups, and improves mutual understanding of nearby communities. The theme of this year's celebration is multiculturalism and unity. One hundred thousand Korean Americans live in Los Angeles with most of them in Korea Town. There are also African American, Hispanic, and Pacific Islanders living close to Korea Town.

The Falun Gong parade procession	The Falun Gong parade procession

This is the first year that Falun Gong practitioners in Los Angeles have participated in the Korean Festival. A banner reading "Falun Dafa -- Ancient Practice for Mind and Body" headed the procession. Falun Gong practitioners' beautiful dance, traditional waist-drum playing, and elegantly decorated float won waves of warm applause. Falun Gong practitioners won first prize for the parade procession, the first prize for float, and the third prize for the waist-drum performance.

The dancers and the drummers	Falun Gong practitioners display their trophies

This parade has provided people in Korea Town with a good opportunity to learn about Falun Gong and to see the splendour of Falun Gong. Those who watched the parade received Falun Gong informational materials which were gladly accepted giving them a chance to learn more about the practise and the unlawful persecution that is taking place against those who practise Falun Gong.