United States: Two Thousand Falun Gong Practitioners Hold Candlelight Vigil in Washington DC to Mark Eight Years of Persecution

"Sit by my side
Close your eyes
Together in silence
We call for
The end of torture
The end of killing
The end of the persecution
Compassion grows in our hearts
Together in silence
Our wishes can make a difference"

This is the song "Please sit by my side" composed by Falun Gong practitioners. In the evening of July 20th, 2007, the song was heard on the north side of the Washington Monument. More than two thousand Falun Gong practitioners gathered for a candlelight vigil, sitting quietly in the gentle wind, commemorating their fellow practitioners tortured to death by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), calling for an end of the eight-year-long brutal persecution, and hoping the world's people will awaken to the facts.

Lisa Fan, one of the organisers of the event, said, "In the face of brutal persecution and even killing, Falun Gong practitioners compassionately, peacefully, and relentlessly spread the facts to those deceived by CCP lies.

The persecution should not happen. It is so brutal that practitioners in China suffer great hardship. It is a challenge of conscience for every person in China. Falun Gong practitioners come to Washington each July to hold activities that help more and more people learn the truth about the persecution of Falun Gong, and take steps to end it.

Persecution of Falun Gong Demonstrates the CCP's Evil Nature for the Whole World to See

Mr. Kan Hung-cheung from Hong Kong said, "The large scale deportation and denial of entry of Falun Gong practitioners in Hong Kong in late June and early July was ordered by Zeng Qinghong, one of the prime culprits in the persecution of Falun Gong. The purpose is to maintain the persecution and to bring more people into the crime."

He pointed out that the mass deportations showed the world that the CCP's promise of "no changes for 50 years" in Hong Kong is a lie. Wherever the CCP is, there are human rights infringements. He believes that the persecution of Falun Gong will be the CCP's final struggle as it forces itself into a dead end due to its persecution of Falun Gong.

Falun Gong Brings Practitioners Great Benefits, So Naturally They Stand Up to Defend the Practice and Call for an End to the Persecution

A practitioner from Japan started practising Falun Gong in 1998. She brought two of her sons and her nephew to participate in activities in Washington this week. Asked why she travelled thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean, she said, "After practising Falun Gong, I benefited both physically and mentally. My family also benefits. I feel I must spread the facts and call for an end of the persecution."

She said she had heart disease since she was young. After giving birth, her health deteriorated. After practising Dafa for one month, she became healthy and her hot temper also changed. Her sister saw her change and started practising Falun Gong. After the persecution started, her family advised her to give up practising. After thinking it over, she realised, "I have made the right choice. I choose to continue practising Falun Gong."

The practitioner from Japan pointed out that CCP's lies deceived many Chinese people. Experiencing the grace of Dafa and as Chinese people, she said she wanted to explain the fact to those Chinese people deceived by CCP.

Katarina Hallf, a practitioner from Switzerland, has practised Falun Gong for near ten years. Sissel Thomsen from Norway has practised for five and a half years. They indicated that they have benefited greatly from practising Falun Gong and feel compelled to call for an end of the persecution and have more people learn the facts.

"The persecution must be stopped."

Darveen, a tourist from India, said that he and his mother passed by and heard the melodious music. They walked toward the music and were moved by the solemn and grand scene they encountered. Hearing about the brutal persecution in China, he said, "This persecution must be stopped."?

Falun Gong Practitioners Establish a Moral Milestone Illuminating Eternally for Human Being

Ms. Lisa Fan pointed out, "In the persecution, CCP damages the basic standards of human morality and drives itself into a dead end. Falun Dafa practitioners validate the principles of Truth-Compassion-Tolerance with their lives, safeguarding justice and peace, establishing a moral milestone that will be long remembered by humanity."