WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 19, 11 a.m.
WHERE: Lafayette Park (H & 16th St.), Across from the White House
DETAILS:
Thousands of Iranian-Americans from nearly 40 states will be attending in a major rally on Thursday, January 19, across from the White House, calling for democratic change in Iran, as a prerequisite for peace and security in the region. They will also urge firm UN Security Council action to halt Iran’s nuclear weapons drive.
The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Lafayette Park (H & 16th St.)
In his 2005 State of the Union Address, President Bush emphasized, "And to the Iranian people, I say tonight: As you stand for your own liberty, America stands with you." On January 19, the Iranian Diaspora, inspired by more than two decades of Iranian people’s democratic resistance against the ruling theocracy in Iran, will make yet another stand for liberty in their homeland.
Ahead of the State of the Union Address by President Bush, Iranians will be demanding for a firm policy in support of democratic change in Iran that should include empowering the democratic opposition.
In addition to its nuclear defiance, Tehran has also been on a crash course to make Iraq its first satellite state in the region. Iran’s widespread interference in recent Iraqi elections has undermined Iraq’s move toward security and stability. According to state-run media in Iran nearly 50,000 volunteers for suicide bombings have been recruited to be dispatched abroad including Iraq.
Meanwhile, suppression of women, youth, workers, religious and ethnic minorities is on the rise. Since Ahmadinejad’s presidency nearly 130 Iranians, including many minors, have been sentenced to death or hanged. The suppression has been in response to the escalation of the anti-government activities especially by the youth and the students. At least five have been sentenced to death by stoning.
The Council for Democratic Change in Iran (CDCI) which has organized the rally advocates empowerment of Iranian people and their democratic opposition as the only viable engine for change in Iran.
