United States: Falun Gong at the California State Fair

The 154th California State Fair was held in Sacramento from August 17th to September 3rd. This annual fair is the largest event of this kind in California, attracting nearly 1 million visitors. Falun Gong practitioners' Divine Land Marching Band was invited to participate in a parade at the fair. On September 3rd, the Marching Band performed five songs in the parade. Many spectators followed the band in the parade and a lot of people greeted the band with applause and cheers.

The Divine Land Marching Marching Band performs

Two children admire lotus flowers distributed by Falun Gong practitioners

In addition, local practitioners had an information booth every weekend during the fair to share the beauty of Falun Dafa and let people know about the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong in China. The information booth was opened to visitors from early morning and closed after 7:00 p.m. The practitioners displayed colourful "Falun Dafa is Good" banners, truth-clarifying posters and all kinds of truth-clarifying materials. They also distributed delicate bookmarks with handmade paper lotus flowers. Meanwhile, several practitioners took turns demonstrating the Falun Gong exercises.

A photographer named Jim told a practitioner, "Your energy field is very good, and every one of your people has a good aura." He said that he did a bit of meditation and was confused by some of his personal experiences. The practitioner recommended that he read the book, Zhuan Falun [Editor's note: The main text of Falun Gong], which would give him the answers to his questions.

A western gentleman read all the materials that a practitioner gave to him. He said, "How could I have known nothing about this!" He stayed until the booth was about to close. He was very happy to chat with the practitioners and said that he would come back.

A western woman passed by. When she saw the practitioners, she said that her son in New York City is also a practitioner. "He often goes to different places around the world to protest the persecution and he also writes articles. He is very busy!" The mother proudly shared.

A couple asked the practitioners to teach them the exercises. A man called Jack took many copies of truth-clarifying materials, saying that he would give them to his friend who works for the Red Cross.

A student said that he had been to China five times and he met Falun Gong practitioners in many places around the world. He and his friend talked with a practitioner for a long time. Evidently, they were very concerned of the persecution.

The bookmarks with lotus flowers attached were very popular. Practitioner Judy and her two sons made the folded paper flowers at the site. When asked why she would bring her two boys with her, she said, "They love to come with me!" Seeing that her children were a bit shy to tell people about Falun Gong, she gently reminded them: "You should have compassion in your heart, and you should remember that you are distributing materials for their benefit."