WASHINGTON—On July 16, around 1,500 Falun Gong practitioners congregated in the nation’s capital to call for an end to the Chinese communist regime’s decades-long persecution of the spiritual practice.
On July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Party launched a massive campaign to eradicate the faith group after the practice gained tens of millions of adherents during the decade. Since then, millions of Falun Gong practitioners have been detained in detention centers, prisons, labor camps, and brainwashing centers across the country. Those detained have been subjected to torture, psychological abuse, and organ harvesting.
After a rally at Capitol Hill, practitioners marched down Consitution Avenue to the Washington Monument. A candlelight vigil remembering the untold number of victims of the persecution was later held at the monument in the evening.
Falun Gong practitioners at candlelight vigil remembering victims of the 22-year-long persecution in China at the Washington Monument on July 16, 2021. The characters for "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance," the principles taught by the spiritual practice, appear at the front. (Larry Dai/The Epoch Times).
Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners gather in Washington to mark the 22nd year of the start of the persecution in China, on July 16, 2021. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Nina Shea, a senior fellow and director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute, speaks at a rally marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime’s persecution of Falun Gong, on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 16, 2021. Larry Dye/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Larry Dye/The Epoch Times
Frank Gaffney, vice chairman of Washington-based advocacy group Committee on the Present Danger: China, speaks at a rally marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime’s persecution of Falun Gong, on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 16, 2021. Larry Dye/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Larry Dye/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Larry Dye/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Lisa Fan/The Epoch Times
Faith McDonnell, director of Advocacy Katartismos Globa, speaks at a rally marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime’s persecution of Falun Gong, on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 16, 2021. Larry Dye/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners do exercises at an event marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime’s persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Xu Xinyang holds a picture of her father, who died as a result of the torture he endured in China because of his belief in Falun Gong, during a candlelight vigil remembering victims of the 22-year-long persecution in China, at the Washington Monument on July 16, 2021. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times).
Falun Gong practitioners do exercises at an event marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime’s persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
A Falun Gong practitioner talks to a passerby at an event marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime’s persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners do exercises at an event marking the 22nd anniversary of the start of the Chinese regime’s persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington on July 16, 2021. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners take part in a candlelight vigil remembering victims of the 22-year-long persecution in China at the Washington Monument on July 16, 2021. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times).
