Crowds of Falun Gong practitioners, meditated together in Union Square, New York City, on May 11, to kick off Falun Gong Day celebrations. The mass meditation was followed by a parade through New York City on May 12.

Described as a “spiritual practice”, Falun Gong is suppressed in China, and Amnesty international has alleged that human rights violations have been carried out against its adherents by the Chinese government.