Iranian-Americans send message of solidarity to protesters in Iran

Photo: Kathlyn Stone

Iranians and Iranian-Americans gathered in Minneapolis Wednesday to show support for the protesters in Iran.

Neda! We hear you!

Neda! We hear you!

Young, old, male and female expat Iranians and supporters gathered under a light rain at noon Wednesday on a busy Minneapolis street corner. They were there to show their solidarity with the protesters in Iran.

This is the second week of demonstrations against the Iranian government since the election June 12. Ahmadinejad claimed a dubious victory. The government has grown increasingly violent toward dissenters with each passing day even as worldwide popular support for the protesters grows.

In between chants, a middle-aged man in a shirt and tie said the U.S. and other nations should impose sanctions against Iran.

When asked if he believed the U.S. should refuse to recognize the Ahmadinejad government he thought for a moment before saying yes. The election was fraudulent; the government admitted there were more votes than voters, and yet they refuse to annul the election result. The Ahmadinejad government is illegitimate, he said.

Down with Ahmadinejad!

Down with Khamenei!

Another man said “Democracy must come from within and be led by the Iranian people.” The inference was that the U.S. should not interfere either secretly or militarily, as some conservatives have suggested.

Many wore green and held signs depicting Neda Agha Soltan, the young woman shot and killed by a member of the Basij militia during protests last Saturday. The video of her dying moments has been seen by millions of people around the world. Her name meant “to call” or “calling.”

Neda! We hear you!

Neda! We hear you!

“Don’t give up,” one woman said, addressing protesters in Iran, though the worry and pain was evident in her eyes. “This might be your only chance for freedom.”

Some of the signs depicted Ahmadinejad as Hitler.

Hey hey, ho ho, Ahmadinejad has got to go!

Hey hey, ho ho, Ahmadinejad has got to go!

A group of three young women wearing scarves said they were there for all the women on the front lines in Iraq.

Their faces expressed anger, resolve, sadness and pride.