Italy: Promoting Falun Gong and Exposing the Persecution in Florence

Falun Gong practitioners in Tuscany, Italy, held a large scale activity in Florence on July 20, 2010. The day-long activity was held on the busy streets and exposed the brutal persecution that Falun Gong practitioners in China have suffered during the past 11 years.

Practitioners demonstrate the Falun Gong exercises.

People sign a petition calling for an end to the persecution.

Several female students from China get paper lotus flowers and learn about Falun Gong.

Students from China learning that what they heard about Falun Gong in mainland China's media is not true.

Practitioners demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises and distributed brochures to tourists. Many people signed a petition calling for an end to the persecution.

Tourists from all over the world visited the information table. They were surprised to find introductory materials in their own languages. They learned that Falun Gong has spread to every corner of the world. Many visitors used hand gestures to encourage Falun Gong practitioners.

One local resident was fascinated by the Chinese characters for "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance". He got a paper lotus flower from practitioners and hung it in his car.

A tourist from Australia was shocked by the brutality of the persecution. She said she would find out more about it when she returned home.

A group of female students from China hesitated to get close at first. They later sneaked closer to read the introduction, in Chinese, about the benefits of Falun Dafa and the brutal persecution. They all accepted the paper lotus flowers. A Chinese practitioner talked to them patiently and analysed the nature of the Chinese Communist Party. All of the students chose to quit the Communist Youth League and Young Pioneers.