By Liu Di and James, Vision Times
FLUSHING, New York — On April 25, thousands gathered in the Queens neighborhood of Flushing to mark the 27th anniversary of the 1999 peaceful appeal by Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing’s Zhongnanhai. The event, which included a large-scale parade and rally, brought together participants from across the greater New York City area to reflect on faith, human rights, and ongoing concerns about religious persecution in China.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual meditation practice based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. Despite its peaceful nature, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a sweeping campaign against the group in July 1999. Over the years, reports have documented numerous deaths in custody as well as ongoing surveillance measures including arbitrary travel bans and arrests targeting practitioners.
RELATED: Falun Gong Marks 27 Years Since April 25 Appeal With Toronto Rally Against Persecution
‘Unbreakable dignity’
Hou Gaiying, assistant to the chair of the New York committee of the China Democracy Party and a representative of individuals who have renounced ties with the Chinese Communist Party, shared reflections from her work documenting alleged abuses.
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“Since April 25, 1999, over the past 27 years, the Chinese Communist Party’s systematic and brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners has been relentless,” Hou said. “At the same time, practitioners have used their belief in truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance to show the world that there are always places that arrogant power cannot reach, and souls that violence cannot replace. Today, I pay tribute to this ‘unbreakable dignity.’”
Hou said her work involves reviewing individual cases, which she described as deeply personal rather than abstract data. “When a person endures the agony of having their face burned by electric batons and still refuses to abandon their belief, this is no longer just suffering,” she said. “It is the ultimate proof of the inner freedom that comes from human dignity and faith.”
She added that the cases she has reviewed point to what she described as a broader pattern of repression. “The regime uses the machinery of the state to carry out a comprehensive campaign against practitioners,” Hou said. “From physical destruction to economic pressure to psychological coercion, the goal is to eliminate independent thought and destroy faith.”
At the same time, she emphasized the resilience she has witnessed. “The firmness of belief is not always expressed through shouting or confrontation,” she said. “Sometimes it is seen in quiet refusal. When a person refuses to bow to lies or betray their conscience, they build a fortress that no power can destroy.”
Faith and freedom
Another speaker, a commentator known online as “Moses Zhujiu,” reflected on the meaning of the anniversary. “Today, we gather not only to commemorate a historical moment, but to bear witness to a belief, a conscience, and a strength that comes from faith,” he said.
He described the April 25, 1999 appeal as a rare example of peaceful civic action. “There was no violence, no hatred, no conflict,” he said. “What they brought was calm, restraint, and a commitment to truth. This was not just a historical moment, but a testament to faith and conscience.”
Drawing from his perspective as a Christian, he emphasized the importance of inner freedom. “True freedom is not just freedom of the body, but freedom of the soul,” he said. “True strength does not come from power, but from a commitment to truth.” He added, “Without freedom of belief, there can be no true freedom. Without conscience, there can be no real civilization.”
Calls for solidarity
Yang Maosen, chairman of the China New Democratic Party, described the April 25 appeal as a defining moment. “27 years ago, practitioners demonstrated resilience in their faith, a commitment to truth, and respect for life,” he said.
He argued that repression has led to greater solidarity among different groups. “Supporting Falun Gong is supporting ourselves,” Yang said. He also highlighted the role of grassroots efforts in spreading information. “They were among the first to break through the regime’s internet censorship,” he said. “They allowed truth to move between the free world and those living behind the firewall.”
Jin Xiuhong, chair of the China Democracy and Human Rights Alliance, spoke about what she described as continued pressure both inside and outside China. “For 27 years, Falun Gong practitioners have been suppressed, disappeared, and persecuted,” she said. “Even overseas, they face transnational repression, but they have not retreated.”
She also referenced threats directed at activists. “We were outraged by bomb threats made against our events,” she said. “After we protested, we received death threats the same day.” Jin said her organization would continue to stand alongside practitioners. “We will continue to stand and fight together,” she said.
As the event concluded, participants emphasized that the anniversary was not only about remembrance, but about ongoing advocacy. Speakers framed the gathering as part of a broader effort to defend human rights and freedom of belief.
Despite being a rainy day, the rally reflected the continued engagement of diaspora communities and advocacy groups in debates surrounding religious freedom and human rights in China.
As of April, more than 460 million people worldwide have since chosen to withdraw from the Chinese Communist Party, the Communist Youth League, and the Young Pioneers.
