Italy: Grand Parade Held in Torino Before the Winter Olympics

Before the 12th Winter Olympics was held in Torino in northern Italy, many European organisations and individuals made it to this beautiful mountainside city to participate in a grand parade organised by the Italian Centre for quitting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on February 4th, 2006, to mark the figure of some eight million withdrawals from the CCP.

To let people know a little more about Falun Gong and expose the seven-year persecution of innocent Falun Gong practitioners, nearly one hundred Falun Gong practitioners participated in this activity.

Torino is very beautiful with lovely sunshine in the early spring. The grand parade set out from the city hall. To show their support for the activity, the representative of the Mayor, some City Councilors and Members of Parliament walked in the front row.

The Falun Gong waist-drum performance was especially eye-catching. To watch the performance and see the various banners, passers-by stopped on the two sides of the street, while others stepped out of shops or opened their windows one after another. The waist-drummers were followed by other participants holding various colourful banners and posters. Among them were lovely children. The banners reading “Dissolve the CCP and Create a New China” were exceptionally striking in the sunshine. Several representatives of the media came to report the activity.

Many people were very angry over the evil CCP’s human rights abuse, after hearing the facts about the persecution. Many people expressed their support for those being persecuted and wished them a bright future, while others were reading the information regarding the movement of withdrawals from the CCP and the flyers exposing the CCP’s atrocities. After talking with Falun Gong practitioners, some foreign athletes and staff members participating in the Olympics finally came to know the facts about the Chinese Communist regime’s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and other religious groups.

A press conference was held after the parade concluded at the Statuto Square. On behalf of the Council of Regione Piemonte, the Provincial Assembly and Torino City Council, Mr. Leo made a short speech to support the millions of people withdrawing from the CCP. Besides lauding these Chinese people as “courageous” and “genuine heroes,” he also condemned the Chinese Communist regime’s persecution of Falun Gong. Among others, he expressed his appreciation for Falun Gong practitioners’ extraordinary courage in their peaceful petition.

As one of the organisers, Mr. Tecchio, representative of the CISL Association, condemned the Chinese Communist regime’s atrocious rule of Tibetans and the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners, members of House Churches, independent associations and others defending human rights.

Politicians condemning the CCP	A Falun Gong practitioner giving a speech	Politicians condemning the CCP

Though the grand parade had come to an end, Falun Gong practitioners’ waist-drum performance lingered in this gorgeous mountainside city. As the Winter Olympic Games are around the corner, we hope that Falun Gong practitioners’ peaceful appeal will remain in people’s minds for some time.