France: Falun Gong Practitioners were Invited to a Festival in Lons-le-Saunier City

To conclude a year of Chinese culture that has recently taken place in France, Lons-Le-Saunier city of Jura province organised a Tasting Festival with the theme of China. A Local MP invited Falun Gong practitioners to join the performance to let more people know about Falun Gong and to talk about the persecution against the practice that has been happening for the last five years.

Many Falun Gong practitioners joined this activity. On the first day, some practitioners took part in the conference and talked about Falun Gong and the persecution. Meanwhile, other practitioners held a performance featuring Chinese waist drums and a traditional dance. Although it was raining during the performance, a lot people came to watch. They were really excited and happy when they saw the practitioners’ performance.

After the performance had finished, the practitioners went to the city centre to demonstrate the five sets of Falun Gong exercises, which also attracted many passers-by. On the way back, the practitioners performed the Chinese drumming again because people kept requesting it.

At dusk, a stage was set up in the centre of the square where the celebration was held. Again, Falun Gong practitioners performed on the waist drums, and did the Lotus Dance and another dance called the Heavenly Beauty Dance. At that time, although the weather wasn’t good, people gave a round of enthusiastic applause.

The next day, practitioners did the same performance again, along with a demonstration of the Falun Gong exercises. They also distributed Falun Gong leaflets and collected petition signatures calling for the instigator of the persecution, former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, to be brought to justice for his crime of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Whilst practitioners distributed leaflets at the exhibition site, a gentleman stood nearby for nearly one hour and did not say anything. He was watching and enjoying the enthusiastic and solemn atmosphere. A practitioner approached him and talked to him. He was very interested in the exercises; he said that he was very happy to see this kind of exercise spreading in his city. He also said, “This is the future. In the future more and more people will learn this practice.” He started to learn Falun Gong the next day.

The MP who invited Falun Gong practitioners came to the exhibition hall to see them. He said he was very happy to see their performance and hoped Falun Gong practitioners have the opportunity to join activities held in other cities. An article about the practitioners’ performance and a photo was published in the local newspaper.