Thousands in US Rally in Support of Iranian Anti-Government Protesters
Thousands of people across the United States marched on Sunday to show solidarity with anti-government protesters in Iran, condemning Tehran’s crackdown on demonstrations that erupted in recent weeks. Large crowds gathered in Los Angeles and New York, according to reports from journalists on the ground.
Several thousand people marched through Los Angeles, which is home to one of the largest Iranian communities outside Iran, while hundreds gathered in New York City. Protesters carried signs accusing Iran’s leadership of mass violence and oppression, with messages describing the crackdown as a “genocide in the making” and condemning what they called state terror.
Many demonstrators were Iranian immigrants or members of the Iranian-American community, some sharing emotional stories of relatives killed during the unrest. One participant said she had recently learned that a young family member had died during protests inside Iran, deepening her anger and grief.
The demonstrations in Iran began in late December, initially fueled by frustration over economic hardship, but quickly expanded into broader protests against Iran’s political system. Human rights groups say the rallies were met with a deadly response from security forces, made harder to verify because of a communications blackout that began earlier this month.
Norway-based Iran Human Rights said it has verified more than 3,400 deaths, though it warned the actual number could be higher. Independent media have been unable to confirm the figures, and Iranian officials have not released an official death toll.
Some protesters in the US called on President Donald Trump to take stronger action, including measures targeting Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Support for Trump and for Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former Shah, was visible among part of the crowd in Los Angeles. However, opinions among protesters remained divided, with others warning against foreign influence or outside attempts to shape Iran’s political future.
Some participants argued that Iranians should be free to decide their own future without Western-backed leadership changes. Others criticized US sanctions and immigration restrictions, saying they have added to the suffering of ordinary Iranians while limiting safe options for those trying to flee danger.
The rallies highlighted both the strong emotions within the Iranian diaspora and the deep divisions over what role, if any, the United States should play in Iran’s political crisis.
