(Minghui.org) Philadelphia, the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence, and its suburb Glenside, held large-scale parades on July 4 to celebrate the 249th Independence Day. Falun Dafa practitioners were invited to both events to join the festivities along with other participants dressed in various ethnic costumes. The practitioners’ waist drum team and lotus flower group traveled from New York to participate and were well received by spectators.
The waist drum team and lotus flower group from New York attended the July Fourth parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Practitioners joined the parade at Glenside that day.
Spectators accepted materials from Falun Dafa practitioners.
“This is awesome!” said Philadelphia resident Carrie Squires as she videorecorded the performance. “I like them [waist drum team] because the music is great and the costumes are wonderful. I’m excited to see that they’re all smiling, and that makes me happy too!”
Carrie Squires (first from left) said she enjoyed the practitioners’ performances.
Naji Gilliam, a resident of Glenside and a registered nurse, watched the parade with her friend. They both applauded the waist drum team’s and lotus flower group’s performances. When they heard that the practitioners traveled from New York, the friend was surprised, and said, “Wow! They traveled all the way from New York? We are so fortunate to have them in this parade.”
Gilliam was impressed, and said that the Falun Dafa practitioners’ costumes were colorful and their movements were synchronized. “Everyone looks happy, energetic, and nice,” she said.
Registered nurse Naji Gilliam
Daniel Stark, who owns a business in Glenside, said he heard about Falun Dafa and the persecution in China. “People in the United States may not realize that not everyone in this world enjoys the freedom we do,” he said. “Some countries do not have freedom of belief or freedom of speech. People can be killed for no reason.”
Business owner Daniel Stark
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