(Minghui.org) On April 24 and 25, 2024, Falun Gong practitioners held events in front of Sydney’s Town Hall and the Chinese Consulate General to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the April 25 peaceful appeal. They called on all sectors of society to help to end the CCP’s (Chinese Communist Party) persecution.
Over the past 25 years, in order to help people know about Falun Gong and the persecution, practitioners held countless activities around the world, and have been praised for their courage and peacefulness.
One Sydney resident said, “The peaceful appeal of more than 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners on April 25 is very brave and admirable; this is a universal consensus for peace that transcends different cultures; we hope to see the Australian government stand up against persecution, and hope to see our government resolutely oppose the CCP’s live organ harvesting.
Practitioners commemorate the 25th anniversary of the April 25 peaceful appeal near Sydney’s Town Hall on April 24, 2024.
Practitioners talk to people and collect signatures on a petition on April 24, 2024 near Sydney’s Town Hall.
Practitioners gathered near the Chinese Consulate in Sydney on April 25, 2024 and called for the persecution to end.
“We Should Stop This Persecution as Soon as Possible”
Pavan Mayakuntla encourages practitioners to continue exposing the persecution.
When Pavan Mayakuntla heard about the persecution of Falun Gong in China, he said, “It’s so cruel, I’m sad. I hope that the persecution will soon be stopped. It’s nice to see the peaceful protests of Falun Gong practitioners. It’s good. This is spreading the truth.”
Pavan said it’s good to follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. “You need truth in life to know what is good and what is bad, what is right and what is wrong. To have a good heart is what distinguishes us humans from animals. Tolerance is one of the most important human qualities, especially in the world we live in today.”
He also said, “You [Falun Gong practitioners] need to spread the message so that the whole world understands what is happening there [China] and at least people can try to do what they can, and that will have a huge impact. We should stop this persecution as soon as possible, and I will relay what I heard today to my family and friends.”
“We Need the Truth”
Sonya King (center) and her friends encourage practitioners to continue exposing the persecution.
Sonya King was saddened by the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and said, “I think it’s terrible, I think it’s [the CCP] depriving them of their human rights and lives, which is not right. We should put an end to this persecution. You must try to get the government to agree to your demands.”
“It’s heartbreaking and sad to see so many people [persecuted]. You see sad stories through their tragedies. I am very supportive of Falun Gong practitioners.”
She also said, “I think the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are very beneficial to society, and everyone needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. We need the truth, and it’s all worth having.”
Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Is Very Important
Vinny Tula said the rally is very powerful.
Vinny Tula believes that the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong is terrible and that it should be stopped. “I think today’s rally is very energetic and can convey the truth, which is exactly what we need to do,” he said. “It can get people to pay attention and get to know [about the persecution] in depth. There are more activities like this, especially in cities like this, and I think it’s a good start.”
He also said: “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is very important, and we should all have these qualities. Being compassionate and helping each other is what we are supposed to do as human beings.”
Falun Gong Practitioners Are Very Brave
Daniel said he first heard about Falun Dafa 12 years ago. “I would like to see the Australian government stand up and oppose the persecution,” he said, “I would like to see our government firmly oppose live organ harvesting.”
Daniel thinks that practitioners’ activities to commemorate the April 25 appeal are very eye-catching—everyone is wearing bright yellow clothes and meditating very peacefully. He said it was a universal consensus on peace that transcends different cultures. He believes that such activities must have had a positive impact on people who do not know the truth.
He also said that 25 years ago, more than 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners petitioned peacefully in Beijing, which was very brave and admirable. “I think they are very brave, especially because they know the consequences that such a petition could have,” he said. “They tried to defend the right to practice their spiritual beliefs, and I believe that this is an indisputable human right. At the same time, peaceful protest is also an indisputable democratic right. I believe that the [CCP] government should not be totalitarian and cannot represent the people. They [Falun Gong practitioners] are very brave in standing up and fighting for these two rights.”
Terrence Rogers (first from left) and Jayden Walsh (third from left) and their friends said they support practitioners’ efforts to expose the persecution.
Terrence Rogers, an environmental science researcher, believes that Falun Gong practitioners’ activities are important to raise awareness. He said, “This is the first time I heard about Falun Gong and the persecution. I really find any persecution of faith that happens in this day and age insane and very sad.”
Jayden Walsh believes that everyone should sign the petition to end the persecution. “We are all human beings and no one should be mistreated,” he said, “We need to show love, patience, and kindness to each other, and we should stick together.”
Chinese Student Quits the CCP
Many young Chinese people passed by the event that day. They took photos and talked with practitioners. Some took information about Falun Gong or signed the petition to end the persecution. Others quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations on the spot.
Wesley Wang, a Chinese college student, was very moved when he saw that practitioners can openly practice in Western society and tell people about the persecution. He happily quit the CCP.
He said that he heard about the persecution when he was in China, and now he knows more about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong, especially the Tiananmen self-immolation incident, which was directed by the CCP.
He said, “I like the free environment of Western society. It’s very good here, as long as you don’t violate the rules, people can do what they like—unlike in China, where you have to obey the CCP’s rules, and you can only do what the CCP tells you. I saw that today Falun Gong practitioners are peacefully meditating. Just like people in other ordinary overseas religions, they can practice freely.”
When he saw practitioners’ banners that read “Falun Dafa Is Good” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Is Good,” he said, “Yes, Falun Dafa is good!” He also praised practitioners for spreading China’s traditional cultivation culture and that Westerners respect it.
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