Angelenos Stand In Solidarity With Women Of Iran

Azadeh Afsahi holds a prominent symbol of the reason behind these risings of protests. After the death of Mahsa Amini by Iran’s morality police, protests against her death have grown. Women are cutting their hair and burning chadors, demanding freedom. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Thousands of Los Angeles community members united in solidarity with the women of Iran at the Freedom for Iran Rally organized by Women’s March LA, in Pershing Square on Saturday, Oct. 1. After the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, by Iran’s morality police, protests against her death have grown. Women are cutting their hair and burning chadors, demanding freedom.

When assembling in Pershing Square, a group of drummers gave a performance and demonstrators responded by clapping and chanting “zan, zendegi, azadi,” which means “woman, life, freedom,” and “say her name, Mahsa Amini.” While trailing through the streets of Downtown Los Angeles, thousands of people continued chanting. As they grew nearer to City Hall, the truck that headed the crowd played the song “Baraye,” a single by Iranian singer Shervin Hajipour.

At City Hall, Iranian-British actress and activist Nazanin Boniadi spoke about the women in this movement who have sacrificed their freedom and lives, “We owe it to them to rise up. We can not let it die down, die out. As I said, it’s not just about compulsory hijab. It’s about the fact that women don’t have any clothes in Iran to protect them from domestic violence. They can’t dance in the street. They can’t sing solo in the street. They can’t ride a bicycle. They can’t become president; they can’t become a judge, they can’t become supreme leaders. They have no control over their own destiny,” Boniadi said.

Boniadi addressed ways in which people can take further action, “I want you all to call your representatives. I want you to demand that they create an international mechanism for accountability of human-rights violations in Iran. Enough is enough. Stand with the people of Iran, and not with the regime. Cause what we’re seeing right now is not the Islamic Republic of Iran, it’s the Islamic Republic versus Iran.”

Freedom Rally for Iran gathers a crowd of hundreds of supporters at Pershing Square in Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, Oct 1. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Maryam Mohebfar (left), Ashley (middle), and Diba (right) cheering at the Freedom for Iran rally on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall. The rally marched from Pershing Square with at least a thousand people in attendance as well as being part of a larger global action surrounding the death of Mahsa Amini. Los Angeles, Calif. on Oct. 1, 2022. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Over a thousand community members march down Olive Street towards City Hall, for the Freedom Rally for Iran, in Downtown Los Angeles, Calif. on October 1. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Supporters hold up a large Iranian flag at the Freedom Rally for Iran, in front of Los Angeles City Hall. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Marching down Temple Street, ralliers walk towards City Hall during the Freedom Rally for Iran, in Downtown Los Angeles, Calif., on October 1. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Freedom Rally for Iran gathers a crowd of hundreds of supporters at Pershing Square in Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, Oct 1. After the death of Mahsa Amini by Iran’s morality police, such protests against Amini’s death, and demanding more freedom, have been growing globally. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Woman holds a wooden pole, with a doll hanging from a tied rope. The doll whose hands are painted red, has the names of the Freedom Supreme Leader and the President of Iran, with the hashtag Mollah, written on its garb, at the Freedom Rally for Iran, in Downtown Los Angeles, Calif. on October 1. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Motorcyclists line up in front of Pershing Square, to lead the march to City Hall for the Freedom Rally for Iran, in Downtown Los Angeles, Calif., on October 1. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Parsha Abadi holding up the Iranian flag while sitting on his motorcycle waiting for the Freedom For Iran rally to begin its march from Pershing Square to Los Angeles City Hall. The rally marched from Pershing Square to Los Angeles City Hall with at least a thousand people in attendance as well as being part of a larger global action surrounding the death of Mahsa Amini. Los Angeles, Calif. on Oct. 1, 2022. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Drummers cross the street in front of Pershing Square, before the march to City Hall for the Freedom Rally for Iran, in Downtown Los Angeles, Calif., on October 1. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Musicians playing music during the Freedom For Iran rally as they marched down Olive St from Pershing Square to Los Angeles City Hall. The rally marched from Pershing Square to Los Angeles City Hall with at least a thousand people in attendance as well as being part of a larger global action surrounding the death of Mahsa Amini. Los Angeles, Calif. on Oct. 1, 2022. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Drummers play in Pershing Square, as supporters chant for women’s freedoms. Freedom Rally for Iran on Saturday, October 1, Los Angeles, Calif. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Over a thousand community members gathered for the Freedom Rally for Iran, in Downtown Los Angeles, Calif. on October 1. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

"Freedom, Life, Women," is written on their shirt, as they shade themselves from the sun in front of City Hall for the Freedom Rally for Iran, in Downtown Los Angeles, Calif., on October 1. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Leila [lastname withheld] holding a rose and sign that reads "death to the regime" at the Freedom For Iran rally on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall. The rally marched from Pershing Square with at least a thousand people in attendance as well as being part of a larger global action surrounding the death of Mahsa Amini. Los Angeles, Calif. on Oct. 1, 2022. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)