Peaceful Falun Gong Rally in Philadelphia Intimidated by Chinese Man

PHILADELPHIA — A Chinese man repeatedly harassed participants during a peaceful Tuidang rally in Philadelphia’s Chinatown on Saturday, Aug. 30.

The Tuidang movement began in 2004 following the publication of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party by The Epoch Times. It seeks to help Chinese people recognize the CCP’s oppressive nature, free themselves from its influence, and publicly renounce their forced or symbolic oaths of loyalty made when joining Party-affiliated organizations.

Hostile intimidation and disruption

During the rally, the man repeatedly attempted to interfere with the proceedings. Witnesses reported that he shouted profanities in both English and Mandarin and made offensive gestures toward participants. He also revved his motorcycle loudly, apparently trying to drown out a practitioner who was reading a state House citation over a microphone. According to attendees, the man circled the rally on his bike repeatedly.

Photographs and video taken at the scene show the individual’s face and motorcycle license plate. Community members said this was the first time such harassment had occurred at their Philadelphia rallies. In previous years, police officers were sometimes present for security, but no officer was on site Saturday.

Organizers expressed concern over the intimidation, noting that the Tuidang movement helps Chinese people recognize the CCP’s nature and peacefully separate themselves from the regime’s influence. The incident has been reported, and practitioners say they hope authorities will review the evidence and take steps to ensure the safety of future events. 

Transnational repression tactics

Notably, the Philadelphia incident mirrors a broader pattern of harassment against Falun Gong practitioners and Tuidang volunteers around the world. It represents one of several transnational repression tactics employed by the CCP. 

On Aug. 6, several men in black threatened volunteers at a night market booth in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. One week later, on Aug. 13, a senior CCP official Leung Chun-ying verbally threatened practitioners during a lawful meditation display in Finland, demanding names and making statements referencing surveillance. On Aug. 15, a Falun Gong information site at Malaysia’s National Monument was disrupted when a group of Chinese nationals forcibly seized a practitioner’s display.

In addition, throughout August the Falun Dafa Information Center recorded at least seven death threats sent to practitioners and their supporters. One message, posted as a comment on The Epoch Times website on Aug. 26, threatened large-scale violence targeting Falun Gong events, practitioners, supporters, and their families worldwide. The message stated,

”Within one month at the shortest, and up to six months at the longest, all Falun Gong exhibition booths worldwide will be set on fire, and Falun Gong practitioners will be shot dead! All Falun Gong supporters worldwide will be attacked, with family members endangered, kidnapped and killed, gang-raped, homes set ablaze, or subjected to explosions! Vehicles driven by supporters will detonate in busy urban areas! This includes national political figures and celebrities… .”

Successful rally despite intimidation

Despite the disruption, Falun Gong practitioners and supporters gathered from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. to mark a milestone: 450 million Chinese people have renounced their ties to the CCP. Participants displayed banners, distributed flyers, and engaged passersby to raise awareness about both the Tuidang movement and the CCP’s persecution of an estimated 100 million Falun Gong practitioners.

At the rally, organizers presented two official citations—one from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and one from the Philadelphia City Council—commending the Tuidang movement for helping millions of people realize the repressive nature of the CCP and withdraw from its affiliated organizations, such as the Youth League and Young Pioneers.

During the event, 49 Chinese individuals publicly renounced the CCP, adding to a growing tide of withdrawals that continues to resonate with human rights advocates across the United States.