DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS IN IRAN! Rally in NYC

                                                                        photo: Julie Jigsawnovich

by Julie Jigsawnovich

This rally was co-hosted by Amnesty International USA, Human Rights First, International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, and The Green Wave.

The Green Wave met at Union Square, and marched 45 blocks uptown to the rally at Columbus Circle through an intense thundershower. Better rainwater, than a rain of bullets! Chanting, "Down with the Dictators!" in the relative safety of New York--with encouragement from tourists, Afghan cooks and Seek cab drivers--was in stark contrast to terrifying violence inflicted upon voters demonstrating in Iran.

But in the back of my mind I knew that, in this age of lethal "non-lethal weapons" and proposed legislation which could further limit the rights of citizens to legally assemble, the voter demonstrations in Iran--and international rallies supporting them--are sure to be closely watched by companies and individuals who would profit from expanded "crowd control."