On April 20, some Falun Gong practitioners in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, Canada, gathered at Dr. Wilbert Mcintyre Park to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the peaceful petition on April 25.
During the event, practitioners displayed banners with messages such as “Build a Monument of Morality with Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance to Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Peaceful Petition on April 25” and “Falun Dafa is Good”, demonstrating the five sets of exercises together. They also set up truth-clarification boards along the roadside, informing passersby, collecting signatures, and calling on the Canadian government to help stop the persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The coordinator of the gathering, Ms. Liu, explained that over 25 years ago, more than ten thousand Falun Gong practitioners went to the State Council’s Appeals Office in Beijing to peacefully appeal, demanding the release of practitioners unjustly detained by Tianjin police and urging the authorities to allow the legal publication of Falun Gong books, providing a legal environment for the practice of Falun Gong by the public. The April 25 peaceful petition showcased a group of kind-hearted and high-caliber individuals, hailed as the “largest, most rational, peaceful, and successful petition in the history of petitioning in China.”
She stated, “Facing the CCP’s brutal persecution for 25 years, Falun Gong practitioners have adhered to the principles of not fighting back or talking back, always clarifying the truth in a peaceful manner. Some practitioners have been imprisoned and subjected to torture, but they continue to compassionately clarify the truth to the police who torture them. Over the past 25 years, they have consistently adhered to their beliefs, truly reflecting the extraordinary resilience and powerful compassionate force cultivated through the practice of Falun Gong based on the teachings of their Master.”
Dr. Wilbert Mcintyre Park is located on the west side of the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market, a popular spot where many pedestrians pass by during weekends.
Falun Gong practitioner Olivia shared that since the CCP began persecuting Falun Gong on July 20, 1999, Edmonton Falun Gong practitioners have been gathering at this park to protest against the CCP’s harsh repression. She mentioned, “Since then, every weekend or on special occasions, Falun Gong practitioners have gathered in this park to clarify the truth to the public, and they have been doing so for 25 years.”
Through truth-clarification efforts, an increasing number of local residents have come to understand the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the CCP. Many have been shocked and angered by this information, finding it unbelievable, leading them to further recognize the evil nature of the CCP. Numerous individuals have chosen to stand on the side of justice and have taken various actions to help stop the persecution, including signing petitions urging the Canadian government to intervene and end this persecution. Many have requested information to help their family, friends, and colleagues understand the truth of this persecution.
During the gathering, many pedestrians stopped to watch the truth-clarification boards. A young Western couple inquired about the purpose of the event, and upon learning about the persecution, the woman shed tears on the spot, signed the petition urging the Canadian government to help stop the persecution, and asked how she could contribute, expressing her desire to support Falun Gong practitioners.