Italy: Falun Gong Photo Exhibition Held in Lucca

On April 27-May 1, 2012, Europe's largest vegetarian festival (Veganfest) was held in Seravezza, Lucca Province, Italy. At this festival, Falun Gong practitioners held a photo exhibition entitled “Falun Gong's Peaceful Resistance," to raise awareness about the persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Seravezza is located along the Apennines-Alps, and the exhibit was held in a palace that belonged to the famous Florentine Medici family. The organizers of the event had met the practitioners at the Carrara Oriental Culture Festival in October last year, and they were keen on having the practitioners attend the Veganfest. They hoped that the practitioners would expose the CCP's brutal persecution, because they were all very supportive of the appeal for human rights and freedom of belief.

On the morning of April 27, practitioners set up the photo exhibit in a meeting room. They showed an introductory video about Falun Gong, then exposed the Chinese Communist regime's 13-year persecution of the practice. People who attended the meeting were shocked by the brutality of the CCP, and showed admiration for the goodness and beauty of Falun Gong. They raised many questions regarding how to learn Falun Gong and immediately asked practitioners to demonstrate the Falun Gong exercises.

After seeing the exhibition, many visitors signed their names to a petition calling for an end to the persecution. One visitor said that he knew of the brutality of the CCP regime, but he didn't know the extent of the evil deeds committed. He said that he was grateful to have the opportunity to see the exhibition. He also took a copy of Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party with great interest.