Iranian Diaspora Protests in Los Angeles

Roshi learned about the Iranian “vice police” when she was 16.

“When I was a teenager, my brother and I threw a party, we were arrested, we were in jail for two days, they threatened us with lashes,” Roshi says.

Roshi’s parents took their children to the United States after that. Today, she joins thousands of emigrants from Iran in protesting in downtown Los Angeles, in solidarity with those now on the streets of Tehran.

“All the years I lived in Iran, I had the feeling that we were living in hell. I had no sense of freedom. So many Iranians have left their homeland, moved to Canada, the United States, but we are still with Iran, our hearts are with the homeland. I’m sure many of us would like to come back to our country, this is our home, and we want to see our people free,” Roshi said.

The protests in Iran began after the death of 22-year-old student Mahsa Amini, who was detained by the vice police for improperly wearing a hijab. This is common practice in Iran, says lawyer, Alela Kamran.

“They patrol the streets and look for women who are dressed indecently, in their opinion, or who are wearing the hijab improperly, and they pick them up, take them to an office where they sort of teach them what morality is. The clothes, the makeup – everything has to meet their standards,” the lawyer says.

Today, people in Iran take to the streets to protest with all kinds of demands. Any protests are harshly suppressed.

“We are the voice of those they are trying to silence! When I was 23, I went to Iran, I was a married woman, and they arrested me too, put me in jail,” Manaz says. Now an activist living in California, like her mother, they fight for women’s rights in Iran.

“I’ve talked to family members who were also arrested, and you know what women now ask for from loved ones who come to the prison to visit them? The means of protection, because, they get raped in prison, and these women don’t want to get pregnant there,” Manaz says, barely holding back tears.

The Iranian diaspora in California numbers more than half a million people. Attorney Alla Kerman is one of those who actively helps her fellow Iranians in Iran.

“The Iranian diaspora in California is very active and strong, we are closely connected to Iran. The community is financially strong, educated, we are in touch with diasporas from other states and with Canada. We’re helping in any way we can, providing a VPN, helping to get our people online, we’re trying to help in any way we can,” Camran said.

Representatives of the Ukrainian community are among those protesting in California against the actions of the Iranian authorities. Igor Moskalenko is one of them.

“They send weapons to Russia, they support this terror, our people in Ukraine are dying,” says the young man.

From the U.S. authorities, the Iranian community is waiting for help.

“There is bloody chaos in Iran right now, our homeland is in flames, I am waiting for the U.S. authorities to recognize this and most of all, I am waiting for action,” says Maggie, a member of the Iranian community whose relatives are now protesting in Tehran.

“I’m waiting for solidarity for the Iranian people, for help with communications for Iranians. Please listen to people, support people,” said another protester in Los Angeles, Sean.

Such actions took place the day before in major cities around the world. They have not subsided in Iran itself, where, according to Iran Human Rights, over two hundred people have already died in the mass protests.