(Minghui.org) Laurel, Maryland, took the lead in holding Independence Day celebrations on July 1, 2023. Falun Dafa practitioners from the Greater Washington D.C. area participated in the parade. Most people who watched the parade heard of Falun Dafa for the first time and said the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are great.
Two practitioners demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises on the beautifully decorated float, followed by the waist drum team. The display boards on the two cars and the banners carried by practitioners conveyed the message of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to the public.
Practitioners participated in the Independence Day parade in Laurel, Maryland.
People accept and read fliers about Falun Dafa.
The city of Laurel, located on the Patuxent River between Washington, DC and Baltimore, is part of Prince George’s County, Maryland. Many local elected officials participated in the parade.
Calvin Hawkins is a member of Prince George’s County Council. He said it was a pleasure to be part of this important Independence Day parade in Laurel. When he learned that Falun Dafa practitioners also participated in the parade and introduced Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to people, he said, “The United States is facing many challenges and has to deal with a myriad of problems. They brought Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and we are fortunate.”
People listen as the waist drummers perform.
Spectators took photos of the Falun Dafa group.
Local Residents Commend Falun Dafa
Lir (Right) and Reshma (left) wish to learn more about Falun Dafa.
Lir and Reshma own a local business. They heard about Falun Dafa for the first time, and Lir said excitedly, “It’s great! I saw something new, brand new. I like their costumes, they are very eye-catching.”
“Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is a great philosophy. We need more information like this,” Lir said. Reshma agreed.
Jermel Floyd commends practitioners.
Jermel Floyd watched the parade on the side of the road and applauded practitioners. Floyd, who saw Falun Dafa practitioners for the first time, said, “They look very good, and the team is spectacular.”
When he saw the words Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance on their banners, he said, “It’s so right, and we want to see more messages like this, the more the better.” He said he hoped to see practitioners participate again next year.
Cathy (left), Cathline (middle), and Donald (right) watched the parade.
Local residents Donald, Cathline, and Cathy watched the parade from the side of the road. Donald said, “[The parade of Falun Dafa practitioners] is wonderful and peaceful. I think the message of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is beautiful.” Cathline added, “We need it very much. Our whole country needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”
Cathline said, “I like the float, which is beautiful. I took a flyer. I want to know more about Falun Dafa.”
Stanley Tucker watched the parade in front of his house.
Stanley Tucker is a frontline operator for an aircraft manufacturing company in Maryland. When the parade passed by his house, he asked a practitioner for a leaflet. Tucker said that he’s seen information about Falun Dafa on his mobile phone before, but today was the first time he saw practitioners. He said they made him feel at “peace and relaxed” and “everyone is at the same pace.”
Lee Lim watched the parade.
Local resident Lee Lim stood on the side of the road and photographed practitioners as they walked by. He said that this was the first time he heard of Falun Dafa. Seeing practitioners on the float demonstrating the exercises and the messages of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance on the banners, Lim said, “I think it’s very good. It purifies people’s minds and helps people relax and achieve health and longevity.”
Ruthy applauded practitioners in the parade.
Ruthy sat on the side of the road watching the parade with her three-year-old son. She kept applauding practitioners and said, “I had only heard the name Falun Dafa before, but didn’t know much about it. When I saw them in the parade today, I felt that they were peaceful and very good.” She said that her son liked to listen to the sound of the waist drums, which was beautiful and peaceful.
Background: What Is Falun Dafa?
Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings—which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance—and learned the five exercises have experienced improved health and well-being.
All content published on this website is copyrighted by Minghui.org. Non-commercial reproduction must include attribution (e.g. "As reported by Minghui.org, ...") and a link to the original article. For commercial use, contact our editorial department for permission.
