July 9 - Support democracy in Iran
[I'll be adding to this page all day, so keep checking back for news/updates and links]
Blogger report from the NYC Rally for Freedom for Iran.
Sky News is reporting on street fights in Tehran:
Police have faught running battles in Iran's capital between hardline Islamic vigilantes and pro-democracy youths.
The three-sided running street fights took place near the capital's Tehran University.
A witness said police had fired tear gas at groups of youths near the campus and also fought fist fights with plainclothes Islamic militiamen to prevent them from engaging in further running battles.
From Tehran Online: Two loud explosions were heard afew minutes ago in Amir abbad near the Tehran university Campus.
Michael Totten: An Open Letter to the People of Iran
Iranian students cancel protests in fear of a "Tiananmen-like massacre.":
"We received information that the other side wanted to heavily confront it and we didn't want to harm the movement and pay this heavy price."
[Today] is July 9...the day that Iranians will show what they really want, & will prove that they're not a kind of people who leave alone the students & the young guys who are spending they life in prisons, just because they wanted freedom for all Iranians. I really hope that they do it well & I myself will try my best to do whatever I can as a young girl, we must also encourage each other; that's very important… --Iranian Girl
Death to Theocracy
Independence Day in Iran
Iran Press Service
Blogging for Revolution
Judgment Day
The Iranian
Buzz Machine
Hoder
Cox and Forkum
Blog for Democracy
Site Essential
Meet Iran's Future Leaders
Chris Muir's Day by Day
Winds of Change
Blogs of War
Pejman
This is the day Iranian dissidents, following nearly two weeks in June of embattled pro-democracy protests in every major Iranian city, have called for a general strike.
Comments
Thanks for posting this. Iraniangirl's blog is very poignant, as well as illuminating. The Iranian dissidents are in a really tough spot - as the theocratic old guard feels more and more threatened, the chances that they'll unleash a bloodbath go up dramatically.
I can't help thinking about Tiananmen Square, but the difference (I hope) in this case is the dissidents have considerably broader support throughout the population. The outcome of this struggle for freedom in Iran could well be a crucial factor in deciding the course of world history for decades to come.
Posted by: MikeR | July 9, 2003 01:10 AM
Unfortunately, it didn't go so well. The protest was cancelled and the organizers arrested.
http://mensnewsdaily.com/archive/newswire/nw03/voa/0703/newswire-voa-070903m.htm
Posted by: Solonor | July 9, 2003 12:00 PM
this isnt about a few protests, a few leaders, on one day. this is about an entire country screaming for freedom. today goes on even in the face of the continued crackdown.
the massive final uprising we all want to see may not happen today, but it will happen. we will be here, continuing to blog our support, and to do whatever else we can, until this regime falls.
Posted by: saoirse | July 9, 2003 01:08 PM
I'm with saoirse on this one. It will happen, maybe not today or tomorrow, but it will happen. And we'll continue to blog our support until they are free.
And I plan to dance in the streets on that day.
Posted by: Kathy K | July 9, 2003 06:05 PM
I've been waiting for this since 1997. And the best part s, Khatami is regarded as HOLDING PEOPLE BACK.
Gonna take a lawn chair out and have a tall glass of wine, the second the mullahs dangle from lampposts...
Posted by: trevalyan | July 10, 2003 12:56 PM