United States: Falun Gong Practitioners Attend the Independence Day Parade in Chinatown, New York

On July 1st, 2007, the Chinese communities in New York held an Independence Day Parade in Chinatown. Many Chinese and Western groups attended. The Falun Gong group attracted a lot of attention. Many Chinese people praised them, saying, "Falun Gong is great!"

The band

Falun Gong practitioners' group

Demonstrating the exercises

Lion dance

The band

Teaching the exercises

The Divine Land Marching Band, consisting of more than 100 Falun Gong practitioners, led the group. They played songs such as "Falun Dafa Is Good," "Fa Drum," "Fa Rectifies the Universe," "America the Beautiful," and "Bringing You the Most Precious Thing." Mr. Shi, a member of the band, said that the song "Bringing You the Most Precious Thing" was composed and played just for this parade - the band wanted to bring the most precious thing to the Chinese communities.

Practitioners demonstrated the exercises in the parade. The dragon dancing attracted many spectators, and many people took photos of it.

The waist drum team performed with the music "Falun Dafa Is Good," which was very welcomed by the Chinese people.

A lot of spectators took photos of the Falun Gong group and praised them, saying "Falun Gong is great."

Ms. Hong, a practitioner, said, "We have been "clarifying the facts" about Falun Gong in Chinatown for the last eight years. Our fact-clarifying booths have become a part of Chinatown. More and more Chinese people have learned the facts and changed their opinion of Falun Gong, and more and more people now want to learn the facts about Falun Gong."

Mr. Chen, a businessman in Chinatown, said, "The parade is not as big as the one in last year, but the Falun Gong practitioners did a fabulous job. Chinatown cannot be without Falun Gong."

Before the parade, practitioners demonstrated the exercises in a plaza near Chinatown. Some Chinese people learned the exercises.