(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners from the Greater Washington, DC area participated in the Labor Day parade and celebrations in Kensington, Maryland on September 1, 2025. Many residents thanked them for bringing the message, “The World Needs Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.” Some who’d previously heard about Falun Dafa left their contact information with practitioners and said they wanted to learn more about this traditional mind-body cultivation practice. Many people signed the petition calling for an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Dafa.

Kensington, Maryland, is located in Montgomery County, Maryland, and is approximately eight miles from downtown Washington, DC. This safe and peaceful town boasts a rich history and artistic atmosphere. Given its convenient commute, many people who work in Washington, DC. reside here. The annual Labor Day parade and celebration comprise an important local event that marks the end of summer and the arrival of autumn.

The Host Introduces Falun Dafa

Before the parade began, people were already lining both sides of the streets. Falun Dafa practitioners held banners emblazoned with “Falun Dafa” and “The World Needs Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.” There was also a float with two practitioners demonstrating the Falun Dafa exercises.

Falun Dafa practitioners in the Greater Washington, DC area participate in the Kensington, Maryland parade.

Falun Dafa practitioners’ float passes the viewing platform.

When the Falun Dafa contingent passed by the viewing platform, the host introduced the practice to the audience: “Falun Dafa is an ancient cultivation practice that helps to improve its practitioners’ mind and body. It includes four sets of graceful exercises and meditation, and its cultivation is based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. People who practice it regularly will benefit physically and mentally, relieve stress and gain inner peace. Mr. Li Hongzhi started teaching Falun Dafa to the public in China in 1992 and since then, the practice has spread to more than 100 countries and regions all over the world. Falun Dafa’s main book has also been translated into more than 50 languages. Kindly log on to falundafa.org to find out more.

Kensington Resident: Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance Unite People

Local resident Vanessa watches the parade.

Upon seeing Falun Dafa practitioners in the parade, Vanessa exclaimed, “So beautiful! When I saw them for the first time in Kensington, I already fell in love with them. It’s so beautiful.”

She said the message, “The World Needs Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance,” resonates with her: “We need to unite because we are currently facing difficult times.” Vanessa believes that Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance can unite everyone.

Paul

Paul took a photo of the exercise demonstration on the float. He said this was the first time he’s seen Falun Dafa practitioners, “This [watching them do the exercises] makes me feel very peaceful.”

Kensington residents Sudha and Pushpa and a few of their friends watched the parade together. Sudha thanked practitioners for bringing the message, “The World Needs Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance,” to the local community. She said, “I think that this is very timely and this [message] is always really important.”

Kensington residents, Sudha (right) and Pushpa (left) enjoyed the parade.

Sudha said that she watches the Kensington Labor Day parade almost every year and the exercise demonstration on the float always impresses her. “This practice is very peaceful and the float is even decorated with lotus flowers. I am very happy to see their diversity and they have done a really good job. They brought a type of goodness that the world needs.”

Pushpa agreed with her, “In the current world, people face great pressures so promoting a meditation practice to help relieve their stress is a good thing. Therefore, I am very happy to see them.”

After the parade, many people stopped at the Falun Dafa booth and read the truth-clarification flyers.

Falun Dafa practitioners distribute flyers along the parade route.

People read Falun Dafa flyers.

A Continuous Stream of Visitors at the Falun Dafa Booth

Some people learned the first set of exercises at the booth, and many said they felt very good when they did them. Others were interested in learning how to practice and gave practitioners their contact information.

People sign the petition calling on the U.S. government to help end the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa.

People learn the Falun Dafa exercises.

When Mayra saw the Falun Dafa booth at the Kensington Labor Day celebration, she got a copy of the introductory flyer, a weekly publication from Minghui.org, and other related materials. She said she was looking for a meditation practice and she felt she came at the right time. She exchanged her contact information with a practitioner and said she hoped to learn how to practice Falun Dafa.

Mayra said she heard of Falun Dafa when she watched a Shen Yun performance in South Carolina around five years ago. She’s a teacher, and her department chair, who was from China, recommended that everyone see Shen Yun. Mayra said, “I remember the long, long queue outside the theater. The Shen Yun performance was so wonderful! I want to see it again next year.”

Mayra came to the booth to get information about Falun Dafa.

Tory went straight to the booth and told a practitioner, “I am very happy to see you all again.”

She said that a Falun Dafa practitioner gave her a copy of a truth-clarification flyer during the parade and celebrations last year. “I have kept that flyer, pasted it on my refrigerator, spread it out, took a photo, and even forwarded the photo to my sisters. I want them to try the practice [Falun Dafa].”

When she saw Falun Dafa’s message, “Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance,” Tory repeatedly said, “I really like it.”

Some people, concerned about the persecution in China, signed the petition calling for the persecution to end and said they wanted to show their support for practitioners.

Tim said when he was in high school, he heard that practitioners were persecuted to death by the CCP and he signed the petition.

Tim signs the petition to show his support for Falun Dafa.