By Karmel Melamed - October 4, 2022
(October 4, 2022 / JNS) Following two weeks of protests in dozens of Iranian cities against the ruling Islamist theocracy, Iranian-American activists of various faiths have been demonstrating and voicing support for their countrymen’s push to overthrow the regime.
“When we’re seeing our compatriots in Iran who are mostly young people—often girls that are maybe 18, 19 or 20-years-old showing incredible courage by standing up to the armed thugs of the regime in the streets of Iran, the very least those of us outside of Iran can do is to publicly demonstrate and show our support for their freedom movement,” said Sam Rajabi, an Iranian-American activist with the Normal Life Council, a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles.
On Oct. 1, thousands of Iranians in cities across the U.S.—including Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, San Francisco, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Washington D.C., Indianapolis, Atlanta and Detroit—took part in demonstrations in support of the protesters. Iranian expatriates in Canada, Australia and Europe did so as well.
“Iranians demonstrating abroad show Iranians at home that they’re not alone in their struggle against the Islamic Republic,” said Alireza Nader, an Iran expert who formerly worked at the RAND Corporation. “The regime wants the people of Iran to think that they’re alone and the world is ignoring them, but the show of solidarity from the diaspora is good for morale at home.”
Read More: JNS