Video and Article By Cesar Canizales

Hundreds of people gathered in Seattle on Friday to condemn the Iranian government’s crackdown on protesters in that country in the aftermath of the death of a young woman who was killed while in police custody. 

Dozens of protesters there have been killed or arrested. 

The protests in Iran began after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was arrested by Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the Islamic country’s strict dress code for head coverings. She died a few days after being detained.

People of all ages showed up to the Seattle demonstration to voice their support for the protesters in Iran, dozens of whom have been killed or arrested in the last few weeks, according to international human rights organizations.

The protesters in Seattle marched on a busy highway leading into city, holding signs and chanting. Drivers showed their support by honking.

The marchers then went to the University of Washington’s Red Square, where they held a candlelight vigil, singing and chanting. 

 Saghar Amini launched Iranian Americans United to call attention to the events in Iran, and she organized Friday’s protest. She is not related to Mahsa Amini.

“Iranian high school children, university students, and older people and their parents are on the streets of Iran calling for freedom, asking for freedom, and they’re getting killed in response,” Amini said. 

Farahnaz Daroudi has been in the United States for 43 years and is outraged by what is happening in Iran. She said the regime is killing and arresting people and violating their human rights. She said she is protesting not because of the alleged violations.

“It’s not only for hijab; it’s not for hair. It’s for all the women’s rights,” Daroudi said.

Daroudi added she would give up her own life for those getting killed.

“I wish I was there, and I was killed, instead of all those innocent children and young people that are our country’s future,” Daroudi said.

Nila asked that her last name not be used because she still has family in Iran. She said she wants the world to know what is happening to people in her country.

“We are here tonight to let the world know what’s going on in Iran and what the Iranian regime is doing to their people. They are killing people and don’t care about anything.”

Danyal Lotfi grew up in Iran and moved to the United States when he started high school

“As Iranians we’re living in this dual state of hope and despair. There’s so much pain, so much anger, so much grief,” Lotfi said.

Lotfi added that he sees parallels between what’s happening over there and here.

“As an immigrant, I see so many connections between what’s happening in Iran and the fight for liberation, for women’s liberation and how that’s connected to the movements in the U.S.,” he said.

More protests are planned over the next few weeks in Seattle.

Photos by Cesar Canizales