(Minghui.org) Practitioners in the San Francisco Bay Area held a grand march and group exercises on July 18, 2026, to inform people about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 27-year persecution of Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) and to call for an end to the severe human rights abuses.

Several pro-democracy activists from the Chinese Democracy and Human Rights Alliance attended the event to condemn the CCP’s suppression of human rights and religions.

Practitioners began the day at 9 a.m. with a group exercise demonstration in front of the San Francisco Ferry Building. Many residents and tourists were drawn to the serene scene and wanted to learn more. Some also decided to learn the exercises.

Practitioners demonstrated the exercises in front of the Ferry Building on July 18. (Minghui.org)

The grand march began at noon. Starting at the San Francisco Ferry Building, practitioners then marched along Embarcadero Blvd, past Fisherman’s Wharf, and finished at the Maritime National Historical Park.

The march consisted of four sections with different themes: “Falun Dafa is good,” “Stop persecuting Falun Gong,” “Falun Dafa,” and “Withdrawing from the CCP organizations.”

The colorful and solemn march attracted many spectators and some took photos and videos.

Falun Gong practitioners and supporters march in San Francisco on July 18. (Minghui.org)

Democracy Activists Support Falun Dafa

Li Haifeng (center) from the Chinese Democracy and Human Rights Alliance, and pro-democracy activists Zhang Yong (left) and Yang Kun (right) at the march (Minghui.org)

The Chinese People Will Thank Falun Gong

Li Haifeng from the Chinese Democracy and Human Rights Alliance joined the march in support. He mentioned that he had not understood Falun Gong before, when he was in China, due to the CCP’s smear campaign.

“I had a misunderstanding in the past, like I believed the self-immolation for a while,” he said. “But later when I thought about it myself, I realized that was not the case.”

Mr. Li said when he got to know Falun Gong practitioners after he left China, he found out that the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance advocated by practitioners are in fact China’s true heritage of traditional culture and morality. He realized that the CCP’s propaganda about Falun Gong was absolute persecution and so he had a banner made to support practitioners. “I apologize to Falun Gong for my previous misunderstanding,” he said.

He said that practitioners have continued to peacefully protest all these years, and Chinese people will one day thank Falun Gong.

“Moral Bottom Line That Everybody Should Follow”

Pro-democracy activist Zhang Yong said the persecution methods the CCP uses on Falun Gong are extremely cruel, including the horrific crime of forced organ harvesting that has drawn attention from the international community.

He shared his understanding of the spiritual practice’s values: “Truthfulness means maintaining our true nature; Compassion means being kind and friendly to everyone; Forbearance means inner restraint so we can live peacefully together. This is the moral bottom line that everybody should follow.”

He said he believes that no matter what organization or faith persecuted groups belong to, all people of justice must speak up and oppose the CCP’s persecution of religion and human rights.

Personal Experience Leads to Support

Yang Kun, another pro-democracy activist, shared that he got to know some Falun Gong practitioners and also tried the exercises out of curiosity. Afterwards, he felt very comfortable and that the exercises were beneficial to his health. He discovered that practitioners are a group of people full of positive energy who pursue sincerity and kindness. He said this prompted him to stand up and support them so more people can learn the truth.

All Forces of Justice Must Unite

Li Xiaolin, deputy director of activities for the San Francisco chapter of the Democracy Party of China, said, “Silence cannot bring freedom, but speaking up can definitely change the future. That’s why I think it is very meaningful that we came today to support the 27th anniversary of Falun Gong’s efforts in opposing the persecution.”

Li Xiaolin (Minghui.org)

Mr. Li said the CCP’s persecution of the Chinese people has not stopped, with victims including Falun Gong practitioners, people in Tibet and Xinjiang, as well as human rights lawyers and dissidents who advocate for the rights of marginalized groups, causing unspeakable suffering.

Pro-democracy activists support Falun Gong at the event in San Francisco. (Minghui.org)

Mr. Li shared that he first heard about Falun Gong through the CCP’s propaganda, but learned about the truth after bypassing the firewall and accessing the Internet overseas. He said that the CCP-staged Tiananmen self-immolation incident was fabricated to frame Falun Gong.

He urged that no matter what organization, group, or ethnicity, all forces of justice must unite and support each other with these events. He believes that unity of the people is the weapon that dictatorships fear most, because the CCP is fundamentally just a “paper tiger.”

“We Must Stop This”

Pro-democracy activist Chen Suoming said, “The CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong includes baseless arrests, extreme interrogations, and forced organ harvesting. This is completely unacceptable. We must stop this from happening.”

Chen Suoming (Minghui.org)

“Forced organ harvesting is an atrocious act that our human society absolutely must not tolerate. After learning the truth, anyone with a conscience should stand up to support Falun Gong in opposing the persecution,” Mr. Chen said.

He praised Falun Gong practitioners for persistently and peacefully informing the public about the truth for nearly three decades.

Pro-democracy activists support Falun Gong. (Minghui.org)

Mr. Chen said, “Over the last 20 plus years, have you heard of Falun Gong using violent means to protest against the CCP? No! They always use peaceful methods. This is how their ‘Forbearance’ is demonstrated.”

He said that the peaceful faces and healthy energy of practitioners at the event were moving and he would like to try this practice in future.

“I Came Here to Support Falun Gong”

Jack Duong, founder of Asian Alliance Against China Occupation and Repression, also participated in the event.

Jack Duong (first from right) and Jan Nguyen (second from right) (Minghui.org)

Mr. Duong said, “I came here to support Falun Gong. I want Falun Gong practitioners to know that we are fighting on the same front. We are all fighting against the evil CCP.”

He said he knew about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong early on, and that was also one of the reasons that he founded the Alliance. He said the evilness of the CCP does not only show in the deprivation of people’s freedom, but even more so in its heinous acts, particularly the crime of forced organ harvesting.

He spoke highly of Falun Gong’s core principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. He believes that this is an excellent standard that not only greatly benefits people’s health, but also elevates the soul.

Mr. Duong urged the international community to see the CCP’s evil nature clearly and apply pressure together, so this 27-year-long persecution can soon end and freedom and human rights can return.

Jan Nguyen, who participated in the march, said, “This is a serious matter concerning human rights. What the CCP is doing is terrifying and they have continued the persecution to this day. This is an atrocity that violates human rights.”

She resonated with the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, saying, “These are values that I believe in. Although I am Catholic, I still deeply believe in these concepts.”

“You are doing great. You need to keep going and gain more attention and support from the international community,” Ms. Nguyen said.

Tourists and Residents Commend Falun Gong and Condemn the CCP

Camila and Julia from Houston, Texas, signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution and forced organ harvesting.

Camila (left) and Julia (right) (Minghui.org)

“This must be stopped!” Camila said. “This forced organ harvesting is shocking and completely unethical. Everyone should have the right to decide where their organs go. This absolutely should not be happening without the person’s consent.”

Julia said, “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are special values. We should treat each other with more tolerance and kindness.”

San Francisco resident Rosanne Torre also signed the petition. 

Rosanne Torre (Minghui.org)

“Falun Gong practitioners follow the three values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance,” Ms. Torre said. “These are important virtues that humanity should have. If people tried to live in harmony, instead of fighting against each other, the world would become more beautiful.”

“I feel very sad that those trying to be good people are arrested and detained and even have their organs harvested in China. They are imprisoned in tiny spaces like animal cages and suffering torture and all kinds of awful treatment. To me, what [the practitioners] are doing is beneficial to this world. So it truly is sad and painful to see this persecution happening.”

Talking about the exercise demonstration, Ms. Torre said, “I feel inspired. I feel happier and more relaxed. I’m glad there are people who are working hard to make the world better. I also feel lucky that I am in America. At least we still have freedom of speech and expression.”