NEW YORK—As part of similar activities held around the world, Falun Dafa Day was celebrated on Sunday at Union Square Park in Manhattan with dancing, singing, and live music. Passersby got a chance to enjoy classical Chinese performances and were educated about the Falun Gong spiritual practice that rose to popularity in China in the 90s, but has been brutally persecuted by the Chinese Communist regime since 1999.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, was introduced to the public on May 13, 1992. Now in its fifteenth year, the practice has always been offered free of charge and includes five meditative exercises and moral teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.
"When I learned Falun Gong I could see it was something good and could help me be a good person," said Georgia Youngquest, an elementary school teacher from the Bronx. Youngquest said she began practicing Falun Gong three years ago right after she started teaching. "I needed to relax and I was thinking you shouldn't have to pay for something like that."
One of a sprinkling of dancers on Sunday not of Chinese descent, Ben Freed said he suffered for years from chronic pain throughout his body that couldn't be diagnosed or treated by doctors, but after practicing Falun Gong his health completely returned.
"It's all gone away. I got way more than my health though: I got the meaning of life; perfect health is just a side effect," said Freed.
Performances included classic Chinese dances like the fan dance, the lion dance, the dragon dance, and many others. The audience was also treated to a rousing performance from the Divine Land Marching Band, who performed the song "Falun Dafa Hao," which literally translates to "Falun Dafa is Good," as well as a Chinese drum troupe and a demonstration of the Falun Gong exercises.
"Beautiful, wonderful! Rich colors," said Billy Ganev, who was watching with his family.
"It's just beautiful. It brings me back to a time that is more genteel," said Mary Ann Masucci, who lives near Union Square Park. "It's nice to see something like this on Union Square as opposed to war protests—such well mannered children. It's nice to see colorful dancing on the streets instead of protests, such beautiful culture."
"It's better than the Chinese performances I've seen before," said journalist Boonsri Dickinson.
Falun Gong was banned in China in 1999 by the Chinese Communist regime apparently because of its popularity. Steeped in the Buddhist spiritual tradition, the practice had spread to over 70 million people in China, including top members of the officially atheist Chinese government.
At least 3,000 adherent have verifiably died because of the government's persecution, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center. Meanwhile many times more adherents have been harassed, arrested and tortured by authorities in China. The persecution is acknowledged and condemned by the U.S. government, the United Nations and countless human rights organizations.
Many people at Union Square said they had already heard about the persecution in China.
"They get killed because of their beliefs. The women are tortured and raped," said Brenda Swigonski of Manhattan.
"They are trying to do meditation in peace and they are being physically tortured for it," said Yoliane Belland, visiting from France.
"I feel like they should be protesting more… Our government should be doing more, don't they have most favorable nation trade status with China, so what's this about?" said Karen Holmes of Manhattan.
Despite the almost eight years of persecution, Falun Gong adherents in China have never resorted to violence against their oppressors but instead have sought to raise awareness about the persecution and have openly condemned the Chinese Communist regime that has ruled China for 50 years, leaving 80 million unnatural deaths. Indeed, at Union Square Park on Sunday, adherents could be seen handing out flyers and talking to people one on one about the persecution in China.
"You can see what the practitioners in China have endured for so long, they have endured and kept to the principles truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance and kept the practice pure under such pressure," said one Falun Gong adherent. "It shows the strength of the practice—the purity of the practice."
Feeds