Finland: Practitioners Hold Candlelight Vigil on Human Rights Day

On the evening of December 10, 2011, International Human Rights Day, at Helsinki's central railway station, Falun Gong practitioners in Finland held a candlelight vigil to mourn the practitioners who have died as a result of the persecution.

Practitioners in Finland hold a candlelight vigil to mourn the practitioners who have died as a result of persecution.

It was night in Helsinki at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, as streams of people joined the year-end shopping spree. Falun Gong practitioners had applied to hold a special activity at this location. They displayed portraits of practitioners who have died as a result of the persecution in China, lit candles, and hung a banner reading, “Please help stop the CCP persecution of Falun Gong.” They called on people to join in their efforts to stop the CCP atrocities and end the unprecedented killing of Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Rows of candles were particularly striking amidst the busy crowd, as peaceful music made people stop their hurried steps to take truth clarification materials and learn the facts about Falun Gong and the persecution.

Many people signed the petition to support practitioners' efforts. One lady saw the message on the banner and, as she signed the petition, told a practitioner that she would tell everyone she knew about the persecution and have them come sign the petition to support practitioners' efforts. She hoped that practitioners would persist until the day when the persecution is put to an end.