(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners rallied in front of the Chinese Consulate in Montreal on April 25, 2023, to commemorate the peaceful protest that took place on the same day 24 years ago in Beijing. The practitioners demand the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) end the ongoing persecution of Falun Dafa.

Known as the April 25 incident, the historic appeal 24 years ago was attended by over ten thousand practitioners from Beijing and nearby provinces at the Appeals Office of the State Council, demanding the government release practitioners arrested in Tianjin and a peaceful environment to practice their faith. Although the then-prime minister promised to fulfill the practitioners’ pursuits, the appeal was later rewritten by state-controlled media as a “siege” of the government, and an unprecedented persecution targeting nearly 100 million innocent practitioners was launched three months later on July 20, 1999.

Falun Dafa practitioner Ruth said at the rally that the protest was peaceful, rational, orderly, and an act of great compassion and tolerance, and the practitioners merely exercised their Constitutional rights as citizens.

“For 24 years the Falun Dafa practitioners shouldered enormous pressure and tirelessly told the world’s people about the truth of the persecution, hoping that everyone could see through the CCP’s evil nature, and not side with the evil. This way there would be hope for mankind,” she said.

Falun Dafa practitioners in Montreal rallied in front of the Chinese Consulate on April 25, 2023, to commemorate the peaceful protest that took place on the same day 24 years ago and demanded the Chinese regime end the ongoing persecution of Falun Dafa.

A Falun Dafa practitioner speaks at the rally on April 25, 2023, in front of the Chinese Consulate in Montreal.

Passersby at the rally in front of the Chinese Consulate on April 25, 2023, sign the petition that calls for ending the persecution of Falun Dafa in China.

“I Support You a Hundred Percent!”

Beaulieu, who ran a property management business in Montreal, knew very well how the CCP persecutes the practitioners. “I am so happy that you organized this event to let people in Montreal know your cause. I support you one hundred percent!” he said. “The CCP’s existence is a danger to China. It lacks democracy, basic freedom, and respect for human rights. I know that the Chinese people live a difficult life under the CCP’s reign.”

Applaud for Practitioners’ Persistence

Thome recently retired after working for the government of British Columbia for 34 years. This was the first time she saw a Falun Dafa event after moving to Montreal. She said that she supported the practitioners wholeheartedly. Though she’s never been to China, her friends in China and Chinese coworkers in British Columbia talked about what happens in China. She wishes the practitioners’ efforts a great success to bring about changes.

Thome

Thome was shocked to hear about the systematic human organ harvesting from healthy practitioners incarcerated for not renouncing Falun Dafa. “It’s mankind’s nightmare,” she said. She was touched by the practitioners’ persistent efforts to end the persecution in the past 24 years, “I applaud for everything you did and your persistence.”

Hope to End the Persecution

It was Amel’s first time hearing about the persecution of Falun Dafa in China. She had a hard time comprehending the CCP’s motivation. “The practitioners are free to choose. Meditation does not harm anyone. It is hard for me to understand why the CCP persecutes them,” she said.

When being told about the atrocity of organ harvesting from living practitioners for transplants, she said that it was horrible and could not believe such things were happening in this world. “I can’t imagine the pain and suffering the victims’ families went through,” she said. She thanked the practitioners for sharing the information with her and she hopes the persecution will stop soon.

Passersby Show Support for Practitioners

Emy who worked at a theater in Montreal told one of the practitioners, “I felt sad knowing that there is no freedom of belief in China. I am glad that the practitioners have held a rally here to let us know what’s happening in China.” “The practitioners are so peaceful. I hope they continue what they do. Persistence is important.”

Emy

Shirley signed the practitioners’ petition that demands the CCP to end the persecution. She said, “The persecution has lasted for such a long time and is still going on. This is terrible. The CCP has no reason to imprison the practitioners and should return their freedom to them.”

Falun Dafa practitioner Anne

Anne is the practitioner who collected signatures for the petition at the rally. She has been practicing Dafa since 1998 and has benefitted from it mentally and physically. “Through the rally today we let the public know about the persecution and the beauty of Falun Dafa. People are moved by our actions and signed the petition to support us.”