(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners were invited to participate in the UC Davis 109th Picnic Day Parade on April 15, 2023. Many spectators praised their team, the Tian Guo Marching Band, and said it was the best group in the parade.
Falun Dafa practitioners participated in UC Davis Picnic Day Parade on April 15, 2023.
The Picnic Day Parade began in 1909 and is the largest student-organized event in the United States, attracting 70,000 participants, including students and nearby residents, every year. The area around Davis is traditionally known for its agriculture, so the parade has many entries with themes related to agriculture.
The Falun Dafa practitioners’ Western U.S. Tian Guo Marching Band in blue and white costumes participated in the parade, and was particularly eye-catching. People greeted the band with cheers and applause. The band played “Falun Dafa is Good,” “Triumph,” and “A Sacred Song,” and was well received by the audience.
Many spectators cheered loudly or exclaimed, “Falun Dafa!” and gave band members a thumbs up. Some said, “Falun Dafa’s team is the best,” “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is awesome. We need these so much.”
UC Davis students Nick (left) and Camille (right) cheer for Falun Dafa practitioners.
Nick, a student at UC Davis, along with his classmates, waved and cheered happily when they saw the practitioners’ team approaching. Nick said that he was a member of the school band when he was in middle school, “So I know that this band (the Tian Guo Marching Band) is a great band.” He said, “Their performance is even better than the UC Davis band. I like their performances. The music is very nice. They are really great. Their alto saxophone phalanx is the best. Thank you very much.”
Another student, Camille, said, “It’s great. They (the Tian Guo Marching Band) are the best in the parade. Their music is the best. I like the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”
Nikolai and his wife Brenda from central California liked the practitioners’ team.
“This team is beautiful, and I like watching them play,” said Patrick Nikolai from Fairfield, California. He said he appreciated the practitioners’ participation in the parade, “It’s so great. I like the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. It’s so good. Falun Dafa being persecuted in China is wrong. They enjoy freedom here in the United States.”
His wife, Brenda Nikolai, also liked the Falun Dafa team very much. She said, “I admire their performances. They share their talents with us here. The principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are very good. I condemn the Chinese Communist Party for persecuting them.”
Brenda explained that she practices yoga, and was very interested when she heard that practicing Falun Dafa can help relieve stress and tension. When she heard that she could learn the exercises online for free, she said, “This is great. I’ll look it up online. Thank you for sharing this information with us.”
Ms. Rodriguez said that Falun Dafa should not be persecuted.
Ms. Raquel Rodriguez said in Chinese, “This team is so great, very good.” She pointed to the informational display board about Falun Dafa, and said that she is a Christian missionary, and that she believes that the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are very good. No one should be persecuted. “It is sad that Falun Dafa practitioners are persecuted in China. They should not be persecuted. Christians and Falun Dafa should not be persecuted because of their beliefs.”
Budwise and his wife enjoyed the parade. Budwise condemned the persecution in China.
Budwise and his wife sat on the side of the road and enjoyed the parade. He said, “The Falun Dafa team is great. I am glad to see that they can express themselves freely here. I know that Falun Dafa is persecuted in China. It is too horrible. I’m glad they enjoy freedom in America.”
Ms. Bibi applauded happily when she saw the practitioners’ group approaching. She said, “Their costumes are beautiful. This team is very good and professional. I have heard of Falun Dafa. The principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are very good.”
All content published on this website is copyrighted by Minghui.org. Minghui will produce compilations of its online content regularly and on special occasions.
