Members of the Iranian community and supporters gathered for a protest in front of the federal building in Westwood, Los Angeles (L.A.) on Jan. 11. Opposed to the brutality of the Islamic Regime in Iran, over 50,000 people marched in the area for 3 hours.
Iranian-American student Mattin Tashbihgoo ’27 said the marches were a much needed way for the Iranian diaspora to show their support.
“The protests going on in L.A. are necessary to remind the world about the absolute tragedy and, at this point, almost genocide of the people of Iran at the government’s hand,” Tashbihgoo said. “The people protesting in L.A., like my mother, want to ensure the world remembers Iran and stand in solidarity with the people of Iran. They want to help them and support them even thousands of miles away, to encourage them to keep fighting and keep fighting and keep fighting. The people of Iran are strong.”
Prior to the Iranian Revolution the country was ruled by the Pahlavi monarchy until 1979 when the Islamic regime overthrew the Shah. Many have debated the implications of the change in leadership, specifically surrounding topics like how religion and rule connect, human rights, and class divide.
Upper School History Teacher Dror Yaron, who teaches the Middle East Studies class said he is hopeful in regard to the future of Iran.
“The current leaders of Iran are focused on formulating a new Shiite hegemonic construct in the Middle East, rather than really nurturing what should be one of the top of the line countries, and, dare I say, a first world order, with the extent of their population, their size, their resources, their strategic location and the variegated nature of their population,” Yaron said. “Iran was a historical force, a cultural icon, a definer of civilizational output [before the revolution], not just Islamic. Even when it was Islamic, it was much more sophisticated and even tolerant than what the Iranian revolutionary republic has been the last 47 years.”
Olivia Davidov ’29 said the protests offered support for the Iranian-Americans of Los Angeles during this uncertain time.
“The Westwood protests reflect how deeply personal and emotionally charged the situation in Iran is for many people, especially within diaspora communities, which are large within LA,” Davidov said. “I see them as an expression of frustration and solidarity, but I also think it is important that they remain informed, respectful and focused on amplifying Iranian voices rather than oversimplifying a complex reality.”
In discussion of the broader significance, Ryan Davidoff ’27 said he is opposed to unnecessary brutality.
“No matter what anyone thinks politically, the violence against innocent and ordinary people is devastating,” Davidoff said.
Upper School history teacher Jennifer Golub-Marcus said the movement has continued to grow and expand its impact.
“I don’t know if these are ‘protests’ per say, but a tremendous show of community support for those rising up against the Ayatollah,” Golub-Marcus said. “As of now, estimates are that 30,000 people have died. In one month of uprisings. Its an unfathomable number, a heartbreaking number. These brave souls who have by now, over the last four weeks, died by the tens of thousands, have died at the hands of the theocratic regime are a testimony of the human spirit and the desire for justice and a fair, responsible and even democratic government.”
Evan Daneshrad ’27 said this has become a human rights issue.
“It’s horrible,” Daneshrad said. “People are being treated as if they are not human beings. What is going on is completely inhumane.”
Davidov ’28 said she is optimistic about the future of Iran.
“I am hopeful about the possibility of change in Iran, especially given that my family left during the revolution,” Davidov said. “At the same time, I am acutely aware of the regime’s demonstrated ability to violently suppress dissent. Even conservative estimates of the number of people killed during recent crackdowns are nearly unprecedented. This raises difficult questions about what it would take for the United States to become more directly involved, and whether we are approaching a ‘red line’ moment similar to Syria in 2013.”
