Near the Ferry Building, you may have noticed an increasing presence of Falun Gong practitioners in public spaces around our community. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice that originated in China in the early ’90s. Comprised of moral teachings, meditation, and exercise, it aims to improve mind and body.
The practice has cultural, spiritual, and sometimes political implications, particularly concerning its relationship with the Chinese government, which has persecuted Falun Gong practitioners since 1999. The Chinese government has labeled Falun Gong as a “heretical organization” or “evil cult,” using this classification as the official reason for banning and suppressing the group.