Australia: Practitioners Hold March to Appeal before G20 Summit

On November 18th and 19th, 2006, Melbourne, Australia hosted the eighth annual conference of finance ministers and central bank governors from 20 countries, i.e. G20 Summit. On November 17th, Falun Gong practitioners from Melbourne, Sydney, and other places gathered and held a march in downtown Melbourne. Later they held a rally on Federation Square and called on delegates from each country and Australian residents to pay attention to the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong in China and help stop the persecution.

Falun Gong practitioners in Australia marching before the G20 Summit Conference

Reenactment of CCP's organ removal from living Falun Gong practitioners

People learning the facts of the persecution	Residents signing a petition to support Falun Gong

The Divine Land Marching Band from Sydney led the procession with a magnificent and touching performance. When the procession passed by the hotel where the G20 Summit was held, reporters from mainstream media gathered to take photos and video footage of the band and the procession.

Spectators accepted truth-clarification flyers. Many asked for more information. There were two young undergraduate students, in the procession. They learned the fact of the persecution in an activity two weeks earlier and joined the procession to express their protest against the CCP's persecution of innocent Falun Gong practitioners. They said that at least the Australian government could protect the safety of practitioners in Australia.

After the march, the practitioners held a rally and performance on the busy Federation Square. Speakers at the rally included practitioners from the Australia Falun Dafa Association, practitioners who suffered inhumane torture in China, Australian citizens whose family members are being imprisoned in China for persisting in practising Falun Gong, and a former Olympic medal winner.

After seeing the procession and learning the facts of the persecution, many passersby signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution.

Two police officers were assigned to safeguard the procession and maintain traffic during the march. Before the march began, they listened to practitioners' explanation of the persecution of Falun Gong, how Falun Gong has reached over 80 countries and regions, and the purpose of the march. They signed the petition and actively contacted their superiors to change the procession route to pass by the hotel of the G20 Summit. Because of this change in the procession route, reporters from mainstream media were able to see the parade, banners, and reenactment of the CCP's tortures and persecution.