The Iranian diaspora demonstrated across Richmond Hill on Saturday, continuing a wave of protests advocating for regime change in Iran that has persisted over recent months. Thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of protesters marched down Yonge Street, exuding optimism following announcements that Israel and the United States initiated military operations against the Iranian regime.
Alan Bostakian, an organizer of the march, articulated his views on the regime, stating, “We call this regime a regime that occupies Iran, not even a simple dictator; they simply occupy Iran, and they are killing the Iranian people.” Protesters once again expressed their desire for the return of exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, asserting that he is the only leader capable of successfully transitioning Iran towards a democratic government.
One demonstrator shared a powerful sentiment, stating, “I believe that we will change the regime; we are so brave, we will do so, and then we will get the power back.” Another echoed the need for international assistance, emphasizing the necessity to weaken the regime’s pillars, saying, “They’ve been massacring and destroying our country for almost 50 years, and we’re happy that the Western governments are now supporting us, even with their military.”
Amid the protests, some participants expressed deep concern for their relatives in Iran, particularly as preliminary death tolls from the ongoing military attack began to surface. Sepideh Saberi shared her distress over not having had contact with her father and sister for three days, attributing this to internet blackouts in Iran. “I’m so worried about them,” she lamented. “I cannot get in touch with them.”
Maziar Momeni, another protester, emphasized that worries regarding the safety of family members are a familiar issue for the Iranian diaspora, stating, “We have concerns for the safety of citizens, but we have not been safe for 47 years,” referring to the 1979 Islamic Revolution that instated the current government. He concluded with, “Of course, we are worried, but this is a war.”
While local law enforcement did not provide official crowd estimates, previous protests have seen significant turnouts. For instance, approximately 350,000 people participated in a rally in North York on February 13, demanding an end to government oppression amidst violent crackdowns on widespread protests within Iran. A similarly sizable and peaceful protest occurred earlier this month in downtown Toronto, attracting 150,000 participants.
In contrast to the Richmond Hill protests, dozens gathered outside the U.S. consulate in downtown Toronto to oppose the military actions taken by the U.S. and Israel. Various “Hands Off Iran” demonstrations were reported in other cities worldwide, including New York and London. The Iranian government has faced mounting criticism, with reports indicating that the death toll from nationwide protests that began on December 28 has surpassed 7,000, with many additional fatalities feared. Conversely, the Iranian government reported last month that 3,117 individuals were killed during these protests.
Files from The Associated Press were used in this report.
