(Minghui.org) To mark the 27th anniversary of the April 25 appeal, Falun Dafa practitioners held a rally on Princes Bridge in Melbourne, Australia on April 18, 2026. They held banners, told the public about the appeal, and raised awareness of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution.

Practitioners held banners on Princes Bridge in Melbourne, on April 18, 2026

Constructed in 1888 and distinguished by its elegant Victorian design, Princes Bridge spans Melbourne’s “Mother River,” the Yarra, and serves as the southern gateway to the city’s Central Business District. As one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the picturesque Princes Bridge is seen as a must-visit destination for travelers from around the world.

For over 20 years, practitioners held events on the bridge to commemorate the April 25 appeal. They talk with passers-by about the April 25 appeal and the CCP’s persecution, as well as the practitioners’ efforts to expose the human rights abuses in China.

Participant of the April 25 Appeal Recalls the Event

Ms. Sun from Shenyang, Liaoning Province participated in the April 25 appeal. She now lives in Melbourne. She said she and other practitioners were appalled when they heard 45 practitioners in Tianjin were beaten and arrested on April 23, 1999.

At that time, she had practiced Dafa for one year and her health improved. She also became cheerful and energetic. When she about the arrests in Tianjin, she felt it was her responsibility to do something. So, she and several other practitioners boarded a train on the evening of April 24, 1999 and went to Beijing.

When they arrived, the police directed them to stand near the State Appeals Office. She said, “I saw many practitioners of various ages. Some read books; others were meditating. There were no slogans or banners. We all waited quietly. The police were relaxed; they smoked cigarettes and chatted.”

The practitioners had three requests: release practitioners who were arrested in Tianjin, allow Falun Dafa books to be published, and allow practitioners to exercise their constitutional right to freedom of belief so they could practice. After a positive response from the government, the practitioners left and the appeal ended peacefully.

The Impressive Courage of Practitioners at the April 25 Appeal

Luca (right) and his wife Laura participated in the rally on April 18, 2026

Luca, an architectural surveyor from Italy, joined one the practitioners on the bridge and held a banner, “It’s a good opportunity to let people in Melbourne know about Falun Dafa. I’m happy to participate in the event. It is an unexpected gift.”

Luca was visiting his wife Laura in Melbourne and was happy to participate in the event. “Seeing all the practitioners doing this with their heart and a smile, all together gives me a lot of joy, a lot of good energy.”

His family told him about the appeal in 1999. Despite the fact that student protesters were killed ten years before in 1989, more 10,000 practitioners went to Beijing to appeal. Luca said, “Their courage makes them exemplary. They understood that their appeal on April 25 was very meaningful and important,” he said.

His father has practiced Falun Dafa for nearly 30 years, and his sister also practices. He knew that Falun Dafa is good from them. He started practicing in 2010.

“At first, I didn’t take it very seriously. But after a few years Falun Dafa became very meaningful to me. So Dafa was able to really get into my heart, and it answered a lot of questions that I had,” he said.

“I’ve changed a lot—for example, I became calmer. I now understand why I’m on this Earth. It’s very important to me.”

In the past 27 years, practitioners in China experienced the brutal persecution. But they keep raising awareness of the human rights abuse in a peaceful way. Luca wants to tell them, “Thank you for everything you do. I hope you continue to have a strong heart. I hope the persecution ends soon.”

Admiring Practitioners

Ross, who is an administrative assistant at a company in Melbourne, passed by Princes Bridge that day and signed the petition calling to end the persecution. She said what practitioners do is important, “Otherwise, how would we know? Unless someone draws attention to the issue or exposes the truth—people like me, who lead quite privileged lives here in Australia, would have absolutely no way of learning about it. Yet, we genuinely want to reach out; we truly wish to offer assistance. We are people with empathy—but we can only care about the things we know.”

Charlotte, a scholar in the fields of health and biomedicine, also signed the petition. She said the practitioners’ perseverance in upholding their belief and protesting the persecution for 27 years, “...were truly remarkable. This is why I signed the petition.

“They stand here and let people see. This is an important matter. I admire all of them,” she said. “I deeply revere this higher level of spiritual cultivation, and I also respect those who are filled with fervor for their beliefs.”