On Saturday, downtown Los Angeles was filled with thousands of protesters participating in the World Day of Action to support Iranians facing a harsh crackdown. The event is in response to a two-month-long response against dissent.
The march kicked off at 1 p.m. from City Hall, featuring a list of speakers calling participants to action before the main march started at 3 p.m.
Los Angeles, along with Munich and Toronto, is recognized as one of the key cities for these international demonstrations against the violent regime.
Shari Zomorodi, one of the organizers, suggested that some politicians and celebrities might join the protest, though she didn’t disclose any names. She estimated that between 100,000 to 200,000 people would participate, with attendees even coming from as far as Minnesota.
She expressed excitement about the day’s event, saying, “I feel like the universe knows what we’re doing; the sky is splitting open. It’s going to be a perfect day to be outside.”
With Gavin Newsom attending the International Security Council in Los Angeles, protest organizers have utilized social media to rally support.
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi noted that a global show of solidarity could potentially urge the international community to take meaningful steps in support of the Iranian people. He emphasized, “The occupation regime sought to crush our will through genocide and violence, but it failed.”
Pahlavi described the situation as dire, stating that these invaders had no ties to Iran and had killed tens of thousands of courageous Iranians while shutting down the internet to conceal their actions. Nevertheless, he praised the resilience of the Iranian people, declaring, “The era of fear is over. The era of freedom is here. Iranians have risen.”
He underscored the importance of unity, suggesting that only through collective action would international governments be compelled to listen, reminding us that “History will remember those who stood with the Iranian people.”
Reflecting on a previous anti-Iranian protest in Los Angeles earlier this January, a U-Haul truck had driven through a crowd, fortunately injuring only two. The truck bore the message, “No Shah. No Government. America: Don’t repeat 1953. No Mullahs either.”
The driver, Karol Madanesht, claimed to support the protesters but accidentally drove into the crowd as they attempted to clear the road. Activists report that about 7,000 Iranians have died since the regime intensified its crackdown on protests late last December.
There are also troubling reports of pro-regime individuals seen at hospitals executing injured protesters awaiting care.
