Hundreds of Iranian-Americans gathered in Los Angeles on Saturday to voice support for the attacks against Iran’s ruling regime a week after US-Israeli airstrike killed the supreme leader.
Demonstrators rallied near the federal building in Westwood on Saturday, chanting for the return of democracy to authoritarian Tehran.
Many praised former President Donald Trump and called the moment a long-awaited turning point for the Iranian people.
Waving flags and sharing stories of exile, protesters said the conflict is not a war but a chance to end the Islamic Republic’s grip on power.
Mars, who was born in Shiraz in south central Iran and still has family living in in the country, told The Post many Iranians see Trump as a “hero.”
“He will be remembered by Iranians the way that Jewish people remember Cyrus the Great, who freed the Jews and led them to practice whatever religion they wanted,” he said.
Many rejected the idea that the current strikes amount to war — and took Democratic politicians to task for opposing military intervention.
Nazanin Jalalian, who was born in Iran and now lives in Los Angeles with her mother, urged American politicians like former Vice President Kamala Harris to try to better understand life under the regime.
“Try living in Iran. Try going to Iran,” Jalalian said in response to Harris’ comments that she was opposed to regime change.
She also criticized Democrats who hold similar positions.
“If they aren’t against the regime change, they cannot talk about human rights, women’s rights, children, or anything,” Jalalian said.
Shahrokh, who was born in Tehran and still has a sister living there, said “we are very grateful” for Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Responding to criticism from Harris and other Democrats, he said they fail to grasp the reality on the ground.
“They are not thinking about the people of Iran. They don’t know what’s going on,” he said. “Talk to them and ask her — where were you when the regime of Iran killed 50,000 innocent people in just two days?”
Mimi Israel, a US citizen born in the Philippines who attended the rally in support of Israeli and Iranian
Many protesters said their families fled Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and still cope with its consequences.
Amin, who was born in Tehran and whose parents still live there, said the demonstrations represent hope for the future.
“They stole our country 47 years ago,” he said. “We had to move to the U.S. as refugees.”
He described the current situation as a fight against terrorism rather than a war.
“I think everybody should support what’s happening in Iran right now because it’s not a war,” Amin said. “It’s saving humanity. It’s a war against terrorists in Iran.”
Benjamin Basre, a Jewish Iranian immigrant born in Tehran whose cousins still live in Iran, shared emotional memories of growing up under the regime.
“How do I describe the environment in Iran?” he said. “It’s exactly like the Nazi regime.”
Basre recalled a childhood conversation that stayed with him.
“When I was a kid playing, my grandma asked the neighbor, ‘If the Islamic regime tries to come after us, would you hide us?’” he said.
“The neighbor said, ‘Don’t say that again. Never. That would never happen. Because I would die to protect you.’ That’s the Iranian heart. That’s the unity you guys are seeing here every day.”
Basre said many Iranian Americans feel ignored by U.S. politicians.
“I was a core Democrat,” he said. “As a gay Jewish legal immigrant to this country, I am a proud nationalist citizen — but they are so disconnected from reality.”
“It’s not a war. It’s a rescue mission,” he added. “They didn’t even bother to show up. Over 700,000 Iranians live in Southern California alone. They didn’t bother to ask how we feel.”
Basre said leaders who oppose the strikes should come speak directly with the community.
“Those politicians? I just want to tell them — come out, talk with us,” he said. “Connect yourself with reality.”
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The post Iranian-Americans celebrate in streets of LA —blasting Dems for ‘war’ remarks: ‘It’s a rescue mission’ appeared first on New York Post.
