Hundreds gathered at Toronto City Hall on May 11 to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day with traditional Chinese dance and music. The event featured a vibrant display of these cultural elements, which included a parade across the downtown area with a marching band.
The occasion celebrates the birthday of Falun Dafa’s founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi, on May 13, while also marking the 32nd year since he introduced the practice to the public in China in 1992. Also known as Falun Gong, the spiritual practice consists of moral teachings centred on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance alongside five meditative exercises.
Falun Gong quickly gained widespread popularity in China, with the number of adherents reaching 70 million to 100 million by 1999, according to official estimates. However, the practice has been banned and faces ongoing persecution from the ruling communist regime.
Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership viewed Falun Gong’s popularity as a threat to the regime’s rule, and in July 1999 launched a violent persecution and hate propaganda campaign with the intention of eradicating the practice. The campaign, which continues today, involves the arbitrary incarceration, torture, brainwashing, and sexual abuse of Falun Gong adherents, as well as forced live harvesting of their organs to supply China’s lucrative transplant industry.
Rights advocates and former parliamentarians attended the celebration in a show of solidarity with the Falun Gong community.
Former Senator Consiglio Di Nino said he is impressed by Falun Dafa practitioners who continue to uphold humankind’s universal principles and stand up to a regime many perceive to be draconian, yet powerful.
“I am so impressed, encouraged, and inspired by how strongly the Falun Dafa organization and its membership still believe in the fundamental principles of humanity,” he said. “I’m happy to be there beside them anytime they ask me.”
Mr. Di Nino highlighted reasons for Canadians to stand with persecuted groups like Falun Gong.
“First of all, it’s humanity,” he said. “We need to make sure that our brothers and sisters, wherever they may be, are treated in a humane, fair, and decent manner.
“What we are doing, in effect, by supporting Falun Dafa in its fight against inhuman treatment by the [Chinese Communist Party], is sending a message that these things should happen nowhere in the world. The fundamental principle of rights and freedoms is not a country issue. It’s a world issue, and it has to be understood and respected all over the place.”
Former MP Wladyslaw Lizon echoed this sentiment, saying that the Beijing regime’s persecution of Falun Dafa is targeting a practice that “makes people better, countries better.”
“The communist system is evil,” he said, noting his own lived experience growing up in Soviet-controlled Poland.
Chinese-born Canadian human rights advocate Sheng Xue applauded Falun Gong adherents for their perseverance in standing up against an unprecedented persecution by the CCP.
“Today, Falun Gong adherents have endured 25 years of persecution. Their suffering is unparalleled in history, as the CCP is exceptionally malevolent, cunning, and morally bankrupt. This, in fact, renders Falun Gong practitioners the most steadfast, righteous, and dedicated community in human history,” she said.
“Each and every one of you is an illuminating figure, a shining star in history.”
Transnational Repression
Dean Baxendale, president and publisher of Optimum Publishing International, pointed out during the May 11 rally that Beijing is actively engaged in foreign interference and transnational repression.“This is a first great step, and it’s because of some of the work that many behind the scenes involving [the Falun Gong community] have been promoting and pushing for [for] some time. It will help to protect all of you, all communities inside Canada that may be oppressed by foreign oppressors—not just China, [also] Iran, Russia, North Korea,” he said.
“You are the symbols of those that are standing up for freedom and for democracy here in Canada,” he added.
Two Toronto city councillors sent congratulatory letters to express their support for Falun Dafa and condemn Beijing’s repression.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to everyone at the Falun Dafa Day celebration. It humbles and inspires me to know that despite transnational repression by the Communist Party of China, the Falun Gong community has persevered and thrived peacefully, developing strong roots in Canada,” Councillor Parthi Kandavel wrote.
“Thank you for setting exemplary evidence of forbearance, perseverance, and truthfulness.”
Councillor James Pasternak highlighted the positive contributions that Falun Gong adherents’ values of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance have made to Toronto and Canada.
“Toronto has traditionally been a safe haven for those fleeing persecution around the world. The city is distinguished by its diversity and inclusive communities where one can find solace connecting with the peace of their homeland in which they have left behind,” he wrote.
“None of us understand this better than the Falun Gong community, which fled persecution in China and have continued to make tremendous contribution to our great country—contributions motivated by truth, compassion, and forbearance.”
To celebrate World Falun Dafa Day, adherents demonstrated the practice’s meditative exercises, put on music and dance performances, and held a parade in downtown Toronto.
