(Minghui.org) The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has persecuted Falun Gong for 18 long years. To mark this infamous anniversary, Falun Gong practitioners all over the world have been holding rallies, marches, and candlelight vigils in protest. Here are a few highlights from far flung corners of the globe.

Peru

Falun Gong practitioners in Peru held a march on July 20 from Campo de Marte to the Chinese embassy in Lima. They held banners and posters and distributed flyers to passersby for about two hours. Many people accepted the flyers and asked for more details about the persecution.

Falun Gong group marches from Campo de Marte to the Chinese embassy in Lima, PeruPeaceful protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in Alfonso Ugarte ParkCandlelight vigil to commemorate the fellow practitioners who died in the persecution.

Rally and March in Latvia

In Riga, the capital of Latvia, practitioners staged a peaceful protest at the Chinese embassy, and later marched from the embassy to Riflemen's Square.

Group practice in front of the Chinese embassy in RigaProtesting the persecution in front of the Chinese embassySending righteous thoughts in front of the Chinese embassy

March in the downtown area of Riga, Latvia

In a rally on Rifleman's Square, the group displayed banners that read, “Falun Dafa is good” and “Stop the CCP's live organ harvesting.” They also collected signatures to condemn the organ harvesting atrocities in China. A group practice of the Falun Gong exercises followed.

A practitioner speaks at a rally in the city center of Riga, Latvia.Demonstrating the Falun Gong exercisesPassersby sign the petition to condemn organ harvesting atrocities in China.A practitioner talks with a passerby about Falun Gong.

Raising Awareness in St. Petersburg, Russia

In St. Petersburg, practitioners held events in several locations on July 20 to raise awareness of the persecution. They held a peaceful protest in front of the Chinese embassy. A Chinese delegation arrived at the embassy and saw the protest.

Falun Gong events were also held in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The main event was held in a subway station. It was rush hour, and many people took photos with their phones. Because it was close to a university, many students read the posters and signed the petition to condemn the persecution.

People in St. Petersburg line up to sign petition condemning the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Batam Island, Indonesia: People Support Falun Gong

Events were held in Batam Center on July 23. Practitioners introduced Falun Gong and informed people about the persecution.

Group practice in Batam Center, IndonesiaPractitioners hold banners exposing the persecution of Falun Gong in China.As in numerous other cities around the world, passersby in Batam Center gladly sign a petition demanding an end to organ harvesting atrocities and the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Thousands of local residents gather to do exercises on a central square on Sunday mornings. On July 23, Falun Gong practitioners were there, too, and many people noticed. Some started to learn the Falun Gong exercises.

Practitioners also held large banners that said, “Stop the persecution and live organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners” and “Collecting signatures to stop the CCP's forced organ harvesting.” Photos of practitioners who had been tortured to death by the CCP were placed in front of the banners. Many passersby learned about the persecution and signed the petition in protest.

Background

Falun Gong was made public in 1992 and soon spread across China due to its beneficial effect on improving health and morality. Nearly 100 million people in China were practicing it by 1999. Out of jealousy, and fearful of losing control of the people, Jiang Zemin, former head of the CCP, initiated the persecution of Falun Gong on July 20, 1999.

The persecution has led to the deaths of many Falun Gong practitioners over the past 18 years. More have been tortured for their belief. Jiang Zemin is directly responsible for the inception and continuation of the persecution.

The CCP even carries out state-sanctioned live organ harvesting for profit. Due to the CCP's information censorship, the exact number of practitioners who have died in the persecution is not known.

Related articles in Chinese:

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