Falun Gong Practitioners Gather in LA for Vigil Marking 22 Years of Persecution in China

Falun Gong practitioners in a vigil commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the persecution in China, in Los Angeles July 18, 2021. Courtesy of Debora Cheng

LOS ANGELES—About 300 Falun Gong practitioners held a candlelight vigil on July 18 next to the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles, commemorating lives lost during a brutal persecution now entering its 23rd year.

Practitioners at the vigil called for the immediate release of 27 friends and family members currently incarcerated in China for practicing Falun Gong, while some shared experiences of the suppression of their faith.