Italy: People of Verona Appeal for an End to the Persecution

On the weekend of October 21st and 22nd, Italian practitioners took to the streets of Verona to introduce local people to Falun Dafa and expose the persecution of practitioners taking place in China. Bra Square is in the city centre and near Verona's famous open-air ancient theatre. Everyday, many tourists from all over the world come to visit. Some practitioners set up a table with leaflets and a petition, while others reenacted various torture methods used against practitioners in Chinese labour camps and prisons. During this weekend, Verona province was holding a festival, which attracted a great many tourists from the surrounding areas.

Many passersby stopped and watched. They read the information boards and banners very carefully in order to understand why Falun Gong practitioners have been persecuted in China for seven years. People were shocked by the brutality depicted in the anti-torture exhibition and many signed their names on our petition form to appeal for an end to the persecution.

A tourist from New Zealand, after listening an explanation to the reasons behind the persecution, gave a warm hug to a practitioner with tears in her eyes. She sincerely hopes that the persecution will end soon. Another lady asked for lots of Chinese newspapers, she was going to give them to Chinese people in her city.

Practitioners also demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises. The peacefulness and tranquility was a clear contrast to the brutality of the persecution. There were also some people who expressed their interest in learning more about Falun Gong.