Over a thousand people from the Iranian expatriate community held a solidarity protest with the Iranian anti-government demonstrators in Los Angeles on Sunday.
One of the protesters said, «We’re looking for a regime change in Iran, to replace it with secular democracy. Down with the Islamic republic!» Another protester expressed his concern over fate of country’s political prisoners, «People are here to support the youth, students while they are being suppressed in Iran. We’re here to say that we heard their voice and we’re echoing their voice in Iran and we’re really, really worried about the future of the political prison, prisoners inside Iran and here we want to support their cause and the movement.»
A large police presence was reported at the rally as well as in the nearby residential area. However, the protest remained peaceful throughout with no incidents of arrests occurring. On Friday, Washington called for an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss anti-government protests in Iran. At least 21 people have died in anti-government protests since Thursday, as rallies protest against rising food prices, unemployment and alleged corruption.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani acknowledged the public’s anger over Iran’s flagging economy but vowed to crack down on lawbreakers.