FLUSHING, New York — Amid the beat of drums and the swirling, high-spirited dances of traditional Chinese dragons and lions, hundreds gathered in Flushing on Aug. 10 to mark a historic milestone in a global grassroots movement: Over 450 million people have publicly renounced their ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations.
The event, which was organized by the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP, also marked the near achievement of another milestone — five million signatures on the “End the CCP” petition. The rally drew a diverse lineup of speakers and activists, including New York state officials, lawyers, scholars, religious leaders, community organizers, and human rights advocates.
The event closed with performances by waist drum teams playing soul-stirring pieces like “Heaven Eliminates the CCP” and “March of the New China.” The mood was celebratory but resolute with a firm commitment to ending authoritarian rule through peaceful, moral awakening.
A global movement
Many described the “Tuidang Movement” as a peaceful and moral awakening — one that has become the largest grassroots campaign in modern history designed to oppose tyranny and clarify the truth.
Success
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Success
Check your email to complete sign up
The movement traces its origins to November 2004, when “The Epoch Times” first published the editorial series Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party in an effort to expose the CCP’s history of violence, suppression, and deception. Soon after, the first public statement of withdrawal from the Party arrived, and by 2005, the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP was formed to facilitate these declarations, which can be made under real names or pseudonyms. Today, the campaign spans more than 30 countries.
At the rally, 25 participants received certificates marking their formal withdrawal from the CCP, Communist Youth League, or Young Pioneers.
Political leaders condemn the CCP
Former New York Lieutenant Governor Dr. Betsy McCaughey praised the courage of those who have quit the CCP, calling the movement “proof that tyranny can be defeated.” She warned of the Party’s global reach, saying, “Communism’s threat is not just China’s problem — it’s a global threat… We should use New York State Police to crack down on the CCP’s illegal activities and protect Chinese people here from its evil influence.”
McCaughey, who is considering a run for New York governor, pledged during the event: “If I become governor, the CCP will be driven out of New York State without mercy.”
RELATED: Coordinated CCP Cyber Attack Targets Falun Gong Content on US-Based Platform
“For decades, the Chinese Communist Party has used violence, lies, and censorship to control its people and crush dissent,” said McCaughey during the rally. “Through movements like the Cultural Revolution, the Tiananmen Square massacre, and the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and religious minorities, the CCP has revealed its true nature — one that fears truth and freedom.”
She added, “I have spent my career defending constitutional liberty, free speech, and individual rights. And I can tell you: the threat of communism is not just a distant issue for China — it is a global threat. We see its influence trying to creep into our institutions, our schools, and even our government.”
Community leader Martha Flores-Vazquez presented a commendation to the organizers, describing the 450-million mark as “a milestone in the global resistance to CCP tyranny” and urging continued public awareness campaigns.
“Congratulations to you for your perseverance, your courage, your tireless efforts to educate Americans in New York City that the persecution will not be happening here,” said Flores-Vasquez, adding, “We will send a message internationally throughout the world that we are a model for everyone where we educate the public and protect our people.”
Human rights at the core
Global Service Center chairman Dr. Wang Zhiyuan called the CCP “a transnational criminal group masquerading as a political party” and detailed its history of political campaigns, massacres, and ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.
He cited investigations confirming senior CCP officials’ involvement in forced organ harvesting, calling for the U.S. to designate the CCP a “foreign terrorist organization.”
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline rooted in the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Despite being peaceful in nature, the CCP launched a large-scale suppression of the group in 1999 after seeing its popularity, which was estimated at 70 to 100 million practitioners, as a threat to its authoritarian control. The persecution has continued unabated for over two decades, with thousands of Falun Gong adherents perishing at the hands of Chinese authorities.
Meanwhile, Attorney Ye Ning described the Tuidang Movement as “a powerful force, stronger than any military arsenal,” while retired U.S. Army chaplain and theologian Dr. Xiong Yan called the withdrawals “a miracle of history… not a political struggle, but a moral choice and a redemption of the soul.”
Michael Pastine, chief information officer at SUNY Old Westbury and a visiting professor at Fordham University, warned about the CCP’s manipulation of information in the digital age: “When truth is suppressed, the foundation of human freedom is shaken… Thought freedom is the most powerful firewall against tyranny.”
Witnesses to change inside China
Dr. Sean Lin, from the “Committee on the Present Danger: China,” stressed that resistance is growing within China itself, citing mass protests such as the “white paper” demonstrations as a turning point. “‘Quitting the CCP’ is more than just a slogan,” said Lin, “It means individuals are awakening from fear and brainwashing, breaking free from decades of false indoctrination.”
He added, “This movement is dismantling the ideological fortress of the CCP, allowing Chinese people to think freely about the future for the first time. More and more are choosing not to be afraid, not to be silent, but to embrace a new chapter for China with reason and courage.”
Underscoring the risks faced by those inside China, volunteer Li Dianqin recounted the persecution she faced at the hands of the CCP for defending her faith in Falun Gong. She spoke of helping over 10,000 people renounce the CCP, including a police officer who later brought his wife to withdraw as well. “He told me, ‘You’ve moved me. I’ve known the Party was bad for a long time, but I had to survive. I won’t do this work anymore.’”
Public voices of support
Spectators also expressed solidarity with those still facing persecution in China. Real estate agent Jose Martinez called the mass withdrawals “a great thing… the sooner the CCP ends, the more peaceful the world will be.” Banker John Gil added, “This shows the regime is close to collapse… I hope more people quit to hasten the end of this scourge.”
Mainland Chinese attendees echoed these sentiments. One man said, “The more people who quit, the sooner the CCP falls, the sooner Chinese people will stop suffering.” Another noted, “Without the CCP, China will have a future.”
As Wang Zhiyuan noted, “We must stand with the forces of justice around the world to expose, sanction, and end the CCP — a demon that harms all humanity.”
