Sep 16

Sep 16 'Say Her Name'

Chicago, Demonstrations, Protest, Public Declarations

On September 16, 2022, 22-year old Mahsa Amini died while in Iranian police custody. The religious morality police, known as the Guidance Patrol, had arrested her three days earlier for not wearing her hijab in accordance with regulations. The authorities claimed that she died of a heart attack, but eyewitnesses reported that she was brutally beaten, succumbing to the injuries she sustained. There are images of a CT scan of Amini’s brain online supporting the claim that she was beaten to death.

Amini’s death galvanized the Iranian population, leading to the largest demonstration in Iran since 2009. During the course of that and other protests around the country, at least 476 other people were killed. Members of the Iranian diaspora staged protests throughout the world, including in Chicago.

Since then, Chicago’s Iranian community has staged a number of demonstrations designed to raise awareness about the repressive regime. During one demonstration in Millennium Park this past summer, the Iranian community remembered several people who died due to torture while held in Iranian captivity, or who were hanged.

Today, over 150 members of Chicago’s Iranian community gathered in Grant Park at Buckingham Fountain to commemorate the first anniversary of Amini’s death. They have not forgotten her fate. Nor have the Iranian authorities, who today arrested her father, Amjad Amini, at his home in Saqez, Iran.

When I arrived shortly before noon, I immediately thought this demonstration might be a bust. There were maybe 25 or 30 people present, which surprised me, because prior demonstrations were well attended.

I asked one of the organizers whether there would be a march. She said a march was dependent on whether more people showed up, which confirmed my suspicion that the unusually low turnout was unexpected.

Over the next 30 minutes, however, the large plaza in front of Buckingham Fountain filled up with latecomers. The turnout still struck me as low given the significance of the date, but it was large enough to justify the subsequent march to Federal Plaza.

The organizers instructed people to take one of the many professionally-produced signs, flags, or banners, but to return them at the march’s conclusion. There were plenty of signs still stacked up, or sitting in a wagon when the organizers asked the demonstrators to form a circle, a further sign that the turnout was below expectations.

In the center of the circle was a large banner that included a depiction of Amini ‘s face. As a drone lifted upward from its resting spot on the banner, the group engaged in several chants. Those were in Farsi, so I have no idea what was said. Interestingly, a number of demonstrators appeared to open some sort of app on their smartphones, which apparently provided either a translation, or a phonetic version of the chants so they could participate. The organizers did introduce one nice touch to the ceremony. Several times they asked those on the circle’s perimeter to step forward. As a consequence, the circle’s diameter grew progressively smaller, which I took to symbolize the increasing unity between those assembled.

After 15 or 20 minutes, those holding the lead banner headed toward South Columbus Drive, with the other demonstrators following their lead. Within minutes, under the watchful eye of the Chicago Police Department bicycle brigade, the marchers headed toward Michigan Avenue. They then marched up Michigan Avenue, turning westward on Jackson until they passed the Dunkin’ Donuts at Dearborn, where they turned northward, entering Federal Plaza.

Once again, the group formed a circle, with two women in the center. There were some brief remarks and chants. At 2:00 PM, the demonstration came to an end, with the crowd first milling about for pictures and talk, and then dissipating as raindrops began to fall.

I was particularly impressed by two members of the Russian community who joined the demonstrators. One was an elegantly dressed older woman who is quite the firebrand. I base that conclusion on remarks I saw her deliver at one of several anti-Putin rallies I have attended. I’ve also seen her in attendance at rallies held by Chicago’s Ukrainian community.

The other was a young man who shows up at every anti-Putin rally. I asked him whether he was a “bit confused,” or whether he has switched allegiances. Nope, he told me, to paraphrase, that he must show his support for any group seeking freedom from a repressive regime. I asked him about the sign he was holding, which was in Russian. It was a poem for the Iranian people; at which point he read it aloud, but first he prefaced the reading by saying it would not readily translate poetically into English.

As has been the case with prior demonstrations, the effort was dignified and those participating were spirited.

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