(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners in Brazil held a series of events around April 25, 2019, to commemorate practitioners in China who have died in the persecution for their spiritual belief.

Twenty years ago on April 25, 1999, more than 10,000 practitioners went to Beijing to peacefully appeal the government’s illegal arrest of dozens of practitioners in Tianjin. Unfortunately, the persecution was launched nationwide just three months later on July 20, 1999, and many practitioners have died as a result.

St. Paul

Practitioners in St. Paul held a peaceful demonstration in front of the Chinese Consulate on April 25, 2019, demanding that the Chinese regime immediately stop persecuting Falun Gong. Practitioners put up posters on Liberdade Square to raise public awareness of the persecution and to show the torture methods that practitioners have been subjected to for refusing to give up their faith.

Falun Gong practitioners hold a candlelight vigil at Liberdade Square in St. Paul, Brazil, to honor practitioners who were killed by Chinese authorities over the past 20 years.

Two boys who learned about the persecution at the vigil volunteer to help practitioners give out Falun Gong fliers.

Falun Gong practitioners raise awareness of the persecution on Liberdade Square in St. Paul on April 25, 2019.

Bras is a business area with many Chinese business owners. Practitioners broadcasted recordings in Chinese from a van about the persecution. They also gave out flyers with information about Falun Gong. Most people in Brazil are religious and supported the practitioners’ effort in ending the persecution.

Salvador

Practitioners in Salvador held a Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance International Art Exhibition in the historical Palacio Rio Branco building. The building used to be the Salvador City Hall and is now a popular tourist attraction. The paintings in the exhibition portrayed the practitioners who have suffered in the persecution while adamantly holding onto their faith.

Antonio Mauricio is saddened by the child in the painting.

Antonio Mauricio helped the practitioners set up the exhibition and was moved after learning that a child in a painting was a victim in the persecution.

Brasilia

Falun Gong practitioners gathered in the business area of Brasilia on April 25, 2019, and put up posters to raise awareness of the ongoing persecution in China. They collected signatures for a petition calling on the Chinese regime to immediately end the persecution of Falun Gong.

The first person who signed the petition was a reporter, Alex Anshito. He said that he must sign the petition to support justice.

Katia signs the petition to support Falun Gong and condemns the persecution.

After reading the posters, Katia told a practitioner: “I like this practice and want to learn it. I will never agree with Beijing’s persecution and will sign the petition to support [the practitioners].”

Falun Gong practitioners held a candlelight vigil in Brasilia.

Practitioners also held a candlelight vigil in the city center of Brasilia in the evening. Many passersby who were just getting off work were drawn to the activity. They took the fliers and learned more about the persecution.