About 10,000 people gathered in Beijing on April 25, 1999, three months before the Chinese government began brutal persecution of the group.
The rally was recently held in several U.S. cities to commemorate the peaceful protest that took place in China 26 years ago.
Falun Gong practitioners have held events in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Seattle, Chicago and New York, and have observed what is now known as the April 25th appeal.
On April 25, 1999, around 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners from various lives and across China gathered near Zhongnanhai, a complex of senior Chinese Communist Party officials. They called for the release of 45 fellow practitioners who were arrested a few days ago in Tianjin, and called for the protection of their right to practice their faith freely.
The peaceful protest became one of the Chinese regime’s excuses to launch brutal persecution to eradicate the group on July 20, 1999. CCP Propaganda portrayed the April 25 appeal as a “siege” against the party.
Los Angeles
On the evening of April 22, nearly 200 Falun Gong practitioners gathered outside the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles to commemorate the April 25 appeal. Each of them had a candle to remember fellow practitioners who had been persecuted at the hands of the Chinese regime.
Zheng Cunzhu, chairman of the Central and Democratic Party of Los Angeles’ local committee, said the Western Chinese government and government should be concerned about the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong.
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“If we’re not wary and allow the authoritarian power of the CCP to expand all over the world… after all, it’s going to spread all over the world like Covid-19,” Zheng said.
Philadelphia
Gong Quinoa, a traditional herbal medicine doctor, spoke at a rally in Chinatown, Philadelphia on April 19th. She recalled witnessing the events of April 25, 1999.
Gong said she traveled to Beijing with her family and arrived very early that day.
“All the practitioners were very quiet without causing any interference. Some were just standing there, while others read and read Falun Gong,” Gong said.
“In the evening, the crowds were quietly dispersed, knowing that CCP authorities would promise not to suppress Falun Gong and would release Tianjin practitioners.”
Gong Qinhua will speak on April 19, 2025 at a rally commemorating the 26th anniversary of the April 25 appeal held in Philadelphia. Yang Qian/Epoch Times
Gong said Chinese authorities arrested 45 Falun Gong practitioners in Tianjin and invited practitioners from all over the country to come to Beijing to file an appeal.
When they arrived in the capital on April 25, 1999, she created the impression that the police were also “deliberately arranged” to gather on the sidewalks of two streets next to Zhongnanhai, carrying out a “siege.”
On April 25, 1999, around 10,000 Falun practitioners peacefully appealed in Beijing, in the outskirts of Zhongnanhai, the central headquarters of the Chinese Communist Party. Provided by Minghui.org
Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners lined up on the streets outside Zhongnanhai, Communist Party headquarters in Beijing, China on April 25, 1999, in a peaceful protest. Go Chai Hin/AFP via Getty Images
“There are some who think that if the April 25 event didn’t happen, then the suppression of Falun Gong could have been avoided. This view reflects the lack of understanding of the CCP’s conspiracy nature,” Gong said.
Other cities
On April 20th, Seattle’s Falun practitioners held an event to commemorate the 26th anniversary of their April 25th appeal at Westlake Park.
In Chicago, a group of local Falun Gong practitioners held an event in front of the Chinese consulate on April 19th.
A Falun Gong practitioner is located in front of the Chinese consulate to commemorate the 26th anniversary of the April 25 appeal held in Chicago, Illinois on April 19, 2025. Epoch era
San, who originally from northern Leaon, said 26 years ago he was a high school student at the time and had no chance to take part in the appeal 26 years ago.
San Ye and his wife, Yuan Jing, at the parade commemorating the 26th anniversary of the April 25th appeal held in Flushing, New York on April 19, 2025. Sarah Lu/Epoch Times
“This is my first time attending an event on April 25th. I am extremely fortunate to be able to come to this free society and participate in such an epic event,” Sun said.
“I hope that people can remember this part of history, understand the truth about Falun Gong, and cooperate in stopping this persecution.”
Yang Qian, Ma Shanen, and Sarah Lu contributed to this report.
