(Minghui.org) The Toronto Falun Dafa group's Divine Land Marching Band was invited to perform in two Santa Claus Parades in Ontario, Canada. The parades in Niagara Falls and London, both held this year on November 14, are held annually to usher in the holiday season.
The Toronto Divine Land Marching Band at the Santa Claus Parade in Niagara Falls
The Toronto Divine Land Marching Band at the Santa Claus Parade in London
This was the first time the band participated in this event in Niagara Falls. In addition to the massive crowds of spectators, hundreds of thousands of people watch the parades on television.
Niagara Falls Parade Organizer Says the Band Is “Fantastic”
Lori Albanese (right), community development coordinator of the city, and Kathy Moldenhauer, director of Recreation and Culture
Lori Albanese, Community Development Coordinator for the city, was in charge of the Niagara Falls parade. “They are fantastic!” she said, explaining that the Divine Land Marching band's good reputation was why she invited the band to perform in both the city's celebrations for Canada's national day and Christmas.
Shaun Merton, executive director of the Santa Claus Parade in London
Shaun Merton, executive director of the Santa Claus Parade in London, said that he invited the band to the parade because “I love the Divine Land Marching Band.” He said he plans to invite the band to the parade next year.
“Freedom Belongs to Everyone”
John Grantier at the London Christmas parade
John Grantier, originally Mississippi in the U.S., has lived in Canada for 49 years. He enjoyed the music and was clapping to the beat. When he spoke with a practitioner who was distributing flyers and learned that the spiritual group was persecuted in China, he said, “It's typical for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). I know that the modern Chinese people haven't had much freedom... the CCP's one-party ruling hasn't changed. Everyone should have the freedom to do what he wants as long as it's within his rights.”
Niagara Falls Residents Hope to See the Band Next Year
Christie Sexton (right) and Amanda Egger catch the band's rehearsal before the parade.
Niagara Falls residents Christie Sexton and Amanda Egger were drawn to the band's performance during its rehearsal. “I hope they come back next year. They are great!” Sexton said. Egger added, “The performance is very nice, I like it.”
Parade Participant Says Chinese Dictator Should Be Put on Trial
Sara Fragnito drives the car for the Miss Club Italia procession.
While the processions were waiting to enter the line of the parade, the driver for Miss Club Italia, Sara Fragnito, took several photos of the band. She said, “The Falun Gong practitioners should be able to practice freely and not be persecuted by the Chinese government.” She commented that Jiang Zemin, former Chinese dictator, should be put on trial for launching the persecution in China 16 years ago.
Chinese Spectators Love the Band
Two Chinese women who immigrated from Guangxi, China, took videos of the band's performance. They told a practitioner that that they loved the band. After they learned more from the practitioner about the persecution of Falun Gong, they decided to take a stance by withdrawing their memberships in the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations.
Two university students came from Guangdong both enjoyed the performances. They also decided to quit the CCP's affiliations after learning about the persecution.
Chinese Spectators Shout “Falun Dafa Is Good!”
Three Chinese tourists at the London parade appeared excited when they saw the band, which is made up of mostly Chinese Falun Dafa practitioners. They smiled and shouted to the band “Falun Dafa is good!” One of them told a Falun Dafa practitioner that the band's performance was “majestic!” All three of them chose to withdraw from the CCP's affiliated organizations to take a stance against the brutal persecution in China.
