SAN FRANCISCO—Hundreds of Falun Dafa practitioners and supporters held a parade in San Francisco on May 9, celebrating World Falun Dafa Day and marking the 34th anniversary of the practice's introduction to the public.
“It's a special day for us because this is when Mr. Li Hongzhi came out to spread, to give us the teaching of what we follow and what we find as truth to guide our life,” David Shi told The Epoch Times. “And he's giving us all this in a very unselfish way.”
Born and raised in China, Shi had the opportunity to transfer to schools in Singapore as a high school student, was later admitted to a highly ranked university there, and had a good job after graduation.
Doing the Falun Dafa exercises makes him more energetic throughout the day, Shi said.
“When I'm not ruled by emotions, Falun Dafa can give me a sense of calmness, and I can really start seeing details and start having more thoughts at work,” Shi said.
“It makes me more productive, with more good ideas, etc. And also, I have a better relationship with my co-workers. Because instead of pursuing money or fame, instead of trying to take advantage of other people, I learned to really be a good teammate.
“I focus on getting things done. Focusing on the thing itself. Learn from each other, be humble.”
Shi has also changed his understanding of traditional Chinese culture, which he once questioned. He realized it’s the CCP culture that people look down on.
He is now a member of the Tian Guo Marching Band, playing trombone in music pieces such as “Falun Dafa is Good,” “Triumphant Return,” and “The Sacred Song.”
Yusef Masjedi, another participant in the parade, told The Epoch Times, “The practice is good. It's something that brings stability and a perspective to my life.”
He started to practice Falun Dafa 10 months ago, after a series of events, including his 2-year-old son being burned in an accident, his father falling off a roof, and himself having a car accident.
Masjedi said these traumatic events drew him to take up Falun Dafa, a practice he had learned from his mother-in-law a long time ago.
“Following the three guiding principles [truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance], I can sometimes slow things down in my mind and know the right thing to do,” Masjedi said. “Lots of hard situations become easier.”
Tens of millions of people in China were practicing Falun Dafa when the CCP started its persecution against practitioners in 1999.
The parade started from the Ferry Building, along Embarcadero Street, through Fisherman’s Wharf, to the Maritime Garden on Jefferson Street.
Cultural teams such as dragon dancers and waist drum performers in the parade attracted the audience, who watched and photographed with their smartphones.
The dragon dancing leader, customized tour guide Yu Yang, was imprisoned by the CCP for a total of seven months in China due to his faith.
While being held in a detention center, he was forcibly tube-fed, which the CCP police usually do to torture Falun Dafa practitioners who refuse to eat while in detention, and was sent to the hospital with life-threatening injuries caused by the force-feeding.
“I support what this group, Falun Dafa, is doing. I find this a very kind group that is working to make themselves better people through their spiritual practice,” Hankins told The Epoch Times before the parade.
Guo Zhijun, who was aware of the persecution against Falun Dafa practitioners in China, told The Epoch Times: “The persecution practitioners are facing is unheard-of, unprecedented, and unmatched in any dynasties throughout China’s history.
“Falun Gong is a good faith, a faith with passion and love; the CCP’s persecution clearly demonstrates how evil and cruel the CCP’s governing is.”
He called upon the public to be aware of the reality of the CCP’s persecution and be vigilant against its infiltration into various democratic nations.
“I urge everyone to offer your full support to Falun Gong practitioners,” Guo said.