Thousands of people filled the streets of Downtown Los Angeles on Oct. 1 in solidarity for freedom in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini.
The sights; Pershing Square, LA City Hall and the streets in between flooded with protestors dressed in white, Iranian flags, Mahsa Amini signs, a burnt Islamic Republic flag and women cutting off their hair.
The sounds; Iranian drum beats from LA Daf Ensemble, protest anthem “Baraye” by Shervin Hajipour blared through every amplifier and the deafening roar of 20,000 people chanting “zan, zendegi, azadi.”
Zan, zendegi, azadi has become the rallying cry of Iranian protests all over the world.
“It means ‘Women, Life, Freedom,'” Sociology Professor Mitra Hoshiar said. “We cannot exclude women from everything. We see social inequality and the violation of women rights from every single institution, from family, education, politics, media.”
Mahsa Amini fell into a coma under suspicious circumstances while in the Guidance Patrol’s custody and later died on Sep. 16. Amini was arrested for not wearing her hijab properly.
Protestors watch the Islamic Republic flag and a hijab burn during a Freedom for Iran protest near City Hall in Downtown Los Angeles on Oct. 1, 2022. Photo by Benjamin Hanson.Pierce College Sociology Professor Mitra Hoshiar participates a protest in Solidarity with people of Iran and the recent death of Mahsa Amini at Pershing Square in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 1, 2022. Amini who died about two weeks ago, days after she was detained by the country’s morality police for violating the dress code. Photo by David Pashaee.Iranian Journalist and TV producer Masih Alinejad (left) hugs a fan before her speech in solidarity with the people of Iran and the recent death of Mahsa Amini at Pershing Square in Downtown Los Angeles, on Oct. 1, 2022. The Islamic Republic of Iran attempted to eliminate her twice in the past two years. Photo by David Pashaee.(L to R) Yadviga Krasovskaya and artist Samantha Rose Moshiri are covered in fake blood during a performance and protest in solidarity with the people of Iran and the recent death of Mahsa Amini at Pershing Square in Downtown Los Angeles, on Oct. 1, 2022.Thousands of Iranian Americans turn out at Pershing Square in Downtown Los Angeles on Oct. 1, 2022. Photo by David Pashaee.People take part in a protest in a Freedom for Iran rally in Downtown Los Angeles Calif., on Oct. 1, 2022. Photo by Daniela Raymundo.
