(Minghui.org) Japanese Falun Dafa practitioners held a parade in Tokyo on April 21, 2024, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the April 25th Beijing Appeal.
Twenty-five years ago on April 25, 1999, ten thousand Falun Dafa practitioners went to the State Council Appeals Office near Zhongnanhai in Beijing, and demanded that the Police Department in Tianjin release Falun Dafa practitioners who had been illegally detained. The peaceful appeal attracted the attention of the international community, and some people started to practice Falun Dafa as a result. Three months later, on July 20, 1999, Jiang Zemin, chairman of the CCP, started a political campaign to brutally persecute Falun Dafa practitioners. The persecution continues in China today.
For the past 25 years, practitioners around the world have commemorated the April 25th Appeal each year by holding rallies and parades, and clarifying the truth to people.
Practitioners hold a parade in Tokyo.
The parade started at Hanakawado Park at 3:30 p.m. on April 21 and was led by the Tian Guo Marching Band. Practitioners walked past Asakusa, Kaminarimon, Sumida River, and other tourist attractions. Many people stopped and watched the parade.
Tourists waved to the practitioners in the parade and listened as practitioners who were giving out pamphlets about Falun Dafa clarified the truth to them. Some people who were visiting Hanakawado Park said they had just learned about the persecution of Falun Dafa from the messages on the banners.
Mr. Okamoto, who was waiting for a bus, said that he had read about Falun Dafa in the library and knew that Falun Dafa practitioners were severely persecuted in China. When a practitioner told him about the Chinese regime-sanctioned forced organ harvesting in China he was shocked. He said he hoped that practitioners in China would persevere and continue to clarify the truth to people.
Mr. Yamamoto said he had a restaurant nearby, and that he had seen a Falun Dafa parade before. He understood and supported the practitioners’ activities. When he heard that practitioners in China were unable to hold similar parades, he said, “The CCP’s suppression of people’s voices is incomprehensible.” He encouraged practitioners in China to persevere.
Cesare Mazzetti from Italy
When he heard about the forced organ harvesting in China, Cesare Mazzetti, a tourist from Italy, said, “It is important to let people know about it. No one can do such a thing. I believe people can stop the persecution if they unite.”
Tayler Magnus from the United States
After learning the facts about the persecution of Falun Dafa, Tayler Magnus from the United States said, “This is outrageous. I feel very sorry for practitioners. Everyone should have the right to their belief. Organ harvesting violates human rights and shouldn’t be tolerated under any circumstances. Please keep doing what you believe. I support your freedom of belief.”
Ben Yado from Iran
Ben Yado said, “I really hope that the persecution will end as soon as possible. Even though the CCP tries to justify its persecution, it is fundamentally wrong and shouldn’t be allowed.”
Luca from Italy
Luca, a tourist from Italy, said, “I support you from my heart. You are doing the right thing.”
A Vietnamese practitioner talked to Lino, a French tourist, about Falun Dafa and the persecution. The practitioner told him that the parade was to raise awareness about the persecution, which is still ongoing in China, and that she hoped people around the world would learn about the persecution. Lino expressed support for practitioners and took a photo with the Vietnamese practitioner.
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Category: April 25 Events
