KEITH ENRIQUEZ/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Demonstrators
march outside the Federal Building Sunday to support the United
States and to protest the current Iranian government.
By Robert Salonga
Daily Bruin Staff
More than 750 peaceful protesters diverted traffic for a full
hour Sunday when they marched through Wilshire and Westwood
Boulevards to call for government upheaval in Iran.
Consisting mostly of Iranian- Americans, the protesters wanted
to make public their support for the United States in its war on
terrorism and to condemn Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, who
spoke for his country in front of the United Nations on
Saturday.
“We’re very disappointed with the United Nations for
giving Khatami an open forum to speak about dialogue with civilized
nations when he represents an uncivilized repressive regime,”
said Ali Sabouri, a recent graduate in political science from
California State University, Northridge.
Protesters called for a referendum to allow for a
citizen-selected form of government in Iran. Many of the protesters
consider the Islamic Republic of Iran ““ the current
government ““ to be a terrorist regime.
“To stop terrorism, you have to stop the root of terrorism
and start with the government of Iran,” said Hassan Babaie,
an electrical engineering lecturer at UCLA.
According to the U.S. State Department, Iran is a designated
state sponsor of terrorism, accused of involvement in
terrorist-related activities by supporting groups opposed to Israel
and peace between Israel and its neighbors.
In an interview Sunday with CNN, Khatami defended himself from
accusations similar to those made at the protest, saying there is a
double standard when the United States labels Iran as a nation that
supports terrorism.
“Although we are victims of terrorism ourselves, we are
said to be alleged terrorists, or at least we are on the list of
terrorist groups,” Khatami said to CNN, adding that there are
western countries that also support terrorist groups.
The protest began in front of the Federal Building on Veteran
Avenue, where supporters rose to their peak number, many coming in
by the busload. They chanted: “Down with the Islamic Republic
of Iran” and “No more Hezbollah,” referring to
the Lebanese terrorist group allegedly supported by Iran.
At about 3:30 p.m., the protesters began the march down Wilshire
Boulevard. Los Angeles police cleared the way, diverting traffic
along the protest route, which continued on to Westwood
Boulevard.
Protest organizers cleared their march with the police
commission by submitting an exact route down Wilshire and Westwood
Boulevards to Le Conte Avenue, then back to the Federal Building
using the same streets, said LAPD Sgt. David Koeh.
Many marchers held up banners and signs that denounced Khatami,
and others expressed their wishes for a return to times before the
1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran.
Laboratory technician Giti Ahmadi lived in Iran for 10 years
before moving to the United States, with most of those years under
the pre-1979 government of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. She recalled
that Iranians lived a more westernized lifestyle then, similar to
that of Americans.
“We want our people to have a new freedom, with less
restrictions. There was once a time when women were allowed to
dress up,” Ahmadi said.
The group returned to the Federal Building around 4:30 p.m., but
this time, the crowd spilled onto the streets. Federal police
officers removed the warning tape that previously surrounded the
building, allowing protesters onto the lawn for safety reasons.
With reports by Noah Grand and Leo Wallach, Daily Bruin
Reporters.