Falun gong supporters march to brassy beat
Steve Myers, Rocky Mountain News
Published August 25, 2008 at 2:41 p.m.
Updated August 25, 2008 at 2:41 p.m.
CIVIC CENTER PARK -- A crispy dressed 50-piece marching band playing "America the Beautiful" led the way this morning as about 100 Falun Gong practitioners stepped down Denver's protest route to draw attention to the meditation philosophy and the persecution followers face in China.
Several other protest groups were scheduled to march this morning while the Democratic National Convention got underway but either failed to show up or decided not to demonstrate, said Kevin Scott, who is coordinating the permitted protests and marches for the city.
"Everybody puts in varying amounts of people they expect to march, and you know, some come, some don't," he said, noting that one group that didn't show this morning estimated they would have 5,000 people for a pro-Hillary Clinton march.
The Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, parade drew about 100 people, including the band, which was smartly dressed in matching royal blue shirts and baseball caps, khaki slacks and white gloves. Other marchers wore matching yellow shirts.
"We want to bring peace and beauty to the world," Young Yang, 42, a Chinese native who now lives in Denver. "We want to introduce Falun Dafa to the people of America and draw attention to the persecution by the communist government in China.
Falun Gong is a spiritual practice that makes use of meditation exercises to achieve the principles of truth, benevolence and forbearance.
The practice is banned as too mystical in China, where up to 100 million people may have practiced it before a 1999 crackdown began.
"My mind is more peaceful. My body is more healthy" because of the exercises, Yang said.
Featured
-
DNC in Denver
Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
-
The Crevasse
A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.
-
Deadly denial
Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.
-
Final Salute
The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.
-
'Colorado's burning'
Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.
-
Columbine shootings
Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.
-
The Crossing
Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.
-
Osveli's journey
Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.
-
Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.
August 25, 2008
3:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
HopiMedicineMan writes:
I feel a kinship with these people. The Democratic Party considers them pests.
August 25, 2008
3:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
If there was ever a group for the dems to support the Falun Gong should be at the top of the list. Oh, I momentarily forgot. The commie chinese government, successors of the libs Saint Mao, are against this peaceful group, the Falun Gong. Therefore, if the successors of Saint Mao are against them then the libs MUST also be against them ... along with those rabble rousing Tibetans. So much for the party of equality and justice, GAG, BARF.
Scott
August 26, 2008
1:03 a.m.
Suggest removal
Chea writes:
If a government fears and tries to eradicate , at all costs a meditation practice rooted in Truthfulness Compassion Forbearance, what does that say about the government and those that support that government?
August 26, 2008
4:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
Joyl writes:
Bravo, Falun Gong. Because of the crackdown, they have been fight an uphill battle against Chinese communist party for over nine years.
I hope people can realize the evilness of communism ideology: humans trying to play God in the name of equal distribution to everyone. Eventually it leads to dictatorship and poverty.
Yes, China is much richer now, and it's exactly because the Chinese communist party relaxed some of its control over the economy. This relaxation is not voluntary. It's for the party's own survival.
Ideologically, the party has maintained a tight control as ever.
For those who wants to continue to engage with Chinese government: you are playing with a poisonous snake. The Chinese communist party is like a snake who only pretends to be human.