Hundreds of individuals gathered outdoors Los Angeles Metropolis Corridor on Saturday, calling for regime change in Iran and rallying in solidarity with the nation’s female-led protest motion.
Protesters chanted, “Zan, zendegi, azadi,” or “Lady, life, freedom” — phrases which have develop into a rallying cry because the demise in September of Mahsa Amini sparked an everlasting protest motion. Amini, 22, died in detention after being arrested by the nation’s morality police for allegedly not sporting her headband appropriately.
Mona and Tamanna, two Iranian American sisters of their early 30s who declined to share their final title as a result of they feared for his or her household in Iran, mentioned they have been impressed to be a part of the refrain of voices around the globe demanding change in Iran. They’d carpooled to Los Angeles from Orange County with 15 relations in tow.
“I personally would like to see in my dad and mom’ lifetime that the Iran they keep in mind is restored,” Tamanna mentioned.
“An Iran that was stolen from them,” Mona interjected.
Saturday’s demonstration coincided with Iranians’ Feb. 11 commemoration of the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which overthrew Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi’s pro-Western monarchy.
Sepehr Khosravi, left, and Nasrin Nav, proper, shout slogans towards the Iranian authorities throughout a rally outdoors Los Angeles Metropolis Corridor on Saturday.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Instances)
Held aloft within the wind, draped over shoulders and affixed to strollers, a sea of pre-revolutionary Iranian flags crammed Grand Park. The flags, which function a lion and solar on the heart as an alternative of the stylized purple image of the Islamic Republic, have been banned after the revolution and have develop into an emblem of opposition to the theocratic authorities that has dominated since.
“There’s a robust hope amongst all of us Iranians as of late,” declared Pezhman Ghiassi, a 33-year-old hairstylist sporting beaded necklaces within the colours of the Iranian flag. Regime change feels nearer with “each single second that passes by,” Ghiassi mentioned.
A number of demonstrators mentioned that they had traveled from Northern California to attend, with organizers saying others had come from so far as Arizona and Nebraska.
“Los Angeles stands with you in your battle for democracy and respect and dignity and human rights,” Los Angeles Metropolis Council President Paul Krekorian instructed the group, saying he hoped the message would carry from Los Angeles to Tehran.
Hours into this system, the shock look of Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late shah, drew overwhelming pleasure, with demonstrators cheering and filming as he waved and raised his arms to them in help.
Instances workers author Laura Nelson contributed to this report.
