(Minghui.org) The Chinese community held a variety of activities in central London on February 22, 2026, to celebrate Chinese New Year. Falun Dafa practitioners set up a table and put up banners to introduce the practice to the public and raise awareness of the ongoing persecution in China. After they learned about the brutal persecution, many people condemned the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) human rights abuses.

Practitioners introduced Falun Dafa during the Chinese New Year celebrations in central London. Local residents and tourists watched practitioners demonstrate the exercises and learned about the ongoing persecution in China.

A stage was set up at Trafalgar Square that day, and there was singing, dancing and dramas. There was a parade in Chinatown, which is a three-minute walk from the Square. Colorful decorations, lanterns, and dancing lions and Chinese dragons in Chinatown drew in many tourists. The practitioners’ table was situated at the north side of Trafalgar Square, one of the most iconic British landmarks, facing the National Gallery. Many people stopped by the practitioners’ table. They learned that the practice was taught in over 100 countries and areas, and heard about the 26-year-long persecution in China. Many signed the petition urging the CCP to end the persecution and encouraged the practitioners to keep exposing the CCP’s crimes.

The Values Make Us Human

Bella and Cameron praised Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

Practitioners demonstrated the exercises in front of the National Gallery. The slow, gentle movements and serene atmosphere drew many people who stopped and watched and read the posters. Bella, a photographer, stopped by with three of her friends. They said they support the practitioners’ efforts to end forced organ harvesting, and they praised Falun Dafa’s principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. Bella said, “In my opinion, these values are what make us human. Freedom of belief is a basic right.”

One of her friends, Cameron, added, “I believe that the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance are positive values, and the world would agree. They can only bring positive influence. Persecuting people who have these values is a big mistake because most people agree with positive messages.”

Man from Shanghai Changes His Mind about Persecution

Wang from Shanghai stopped in front of the poster about the film “False Fire.” He carefully read the statement from the International Education Development organization on the alleged Tiananmen self-immolation on January 2001. The statement was issued on August 14, 2001 at the United Nations. Wang asked practitioners many questions and explained that he practiced qigong to improve his health, and he knew about Falun Dafa.

After he learned that practitioners have dedicated their time and effort in the past 27 years to expose the brutal persecution, he was silent for a while. He then told the practitioners that he wanted to quit the Chinese Young Pioneers and Youth League, and explained that he was forced to join those organizations when he was too young to understand what joining them meant. Now he understood that the CCP makes young children swear on their lives to sacrifice themselves for the CCP. He thanked the practitioners for explaining the situation.

Wang said that after he left China and had access to more information, he started to have second thoughts about the CCP’s narratives.

Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Are Universal Values

Many people stopped to read the information on the practitioners’ posters and signed the petition, and Jamie was one of them. Jamie worked as a security guard and said his step-mother came from Hong Kong, so every year his family celebrates Chinese New Year.

Jamie said freedom of belief should not be restricted.

Jamie said, “Everyone should be allowed to practice their religious belief. This is a basic freedom of belief, and should be allowed everywhere. No one should be banned from having faith.” He said that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are universal values across all beliefs.

People Should Take a Stand

Robin works in construction. After signing the petition, he said, “Freedom of belief is righteous, and we should help you.” He said that when they see others persecuted, people should take a stand. His friend, Luna, who did administrative work in the construction company, said, “Persecuting people is wrong, and truly terrible.” She also said the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance were “beneficial and wonderful values” that would positively influence British society.

Wishes to Help Expose the Persecution

Livia urged people to support practitioners’ efforts to end the persecution.

Livia is a teacher and said she practiced Taichi and knew the benefits of qigong. She was interested in Falun Dafa and said she enjoyed the music while she watched practitioners doing the exercises. After she was told that imprisoned practitioners have their organs removed while they are alive when they refuse to renounce their faith, she said, “This is disgusting, unfathomable, It’s outrageous.”

She said what the CCP did to persecute the practitioners was “absolutely unacceptable” and “scary.” She signed the petition and said, “Everyone should stand up and say they won’t tolerate this.”

When practitioners told her about Falun Dafa’s guiding principles, she said she believed in forbearance, “I believe that we should be understanding of people who are different from us.” She thanked practitioners for their efforts, and said she wanted to help them spread the information.

Epilogue

The Chinese New Year is a traditional Chinese festival for warding off evil and welcoming good fortune. While celebrating, Falun Dafa practitioners introduced the high-level Buddhist practice and its principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance to the people of London. They encouraged people to improve physical and mental health and moral values through the practice, and wanted people to value virtue and thus have a bright future.

Every petition signature and word of support from the crowd showed people’s recognition of justice and conscience. More and more people are choosing to stand up to condemn the persecution and support freedom of belief and human dignity.