Demonstrators at Curtis Hixon Park call for freedom as families mourn reported deaths and fear for loved ones amid internet shutdowns.
TAMPA, Fla. — A show of solidarity unfolded Sunday in downtown Tampa as members of the Iranian diaspora gathered to call for regime change in Iran, drawing together some of the estimated 5,000 Iranians living in the Tampa Bay area.
Amid outrage over economic collapse and political oppression in Iran, calls for freedom rang out from Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, where hundreds of demonstrators voiced grief, anger and hope for nearly two hours as protests continue overseas.
“So far, we’ve lost two from my family, so I don’t know how many we have to lose so that we can get the help,” said Tampa resident Shazi Eslahi.
Families who have lived in the Tampa Bay area for decades, like Eslahi, said they are mourning what CBS News is reporting as 12,000 to 20,000 people killed during two weeks of protests in January.
“They’ve been killing people left and right. They’ve been killing people thousands by thousands,” Eslahi said.
Several protests in major cities in Iran paused this weekend due to nationwide internet outages, according to organizers. Tampa facilitator Damineh Oveisi said she was unable to reach her parents, sister or brother for nearly five days during the cyber-blackout.
“It was a nightmare that no human being should ever experience this… I didn’t know if they were alive or if they were safe,” Oveisi said.
The Jan. 18 demonstration comes as tensions escalate between the United States and Iran. President Donald Trump said on Jan. 12 that Iran wanted to negotiate, yet he is weighing possible military airstrikes after an Iranian lawmaker threatened retaliation against American military assets in the region if the U.S. strikes.
“If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they have never been hit before,” Trump said on Jan. 12 aboard Air Force One.
Some demonstrators said they want stronger action from the United States.
“What we need at the moment is the air support, is the leader of the free world, Mr. Trump, to step in and free the nation, 90 million people are under this oppression,” local demonstrator Shahram Paherinia said.
Others emphasized broader demands for civil liberties.
“The goal, purpose is to free Iran from this religion, this dictator that we have in a country. We only need freedom. Freedom of speech. Freedom of writing. Freedom of just being free with what we wanted to wear,” Eslahi said.
As of now, the White House has not announced an official meeting date with the leaders of Iran.
Local organizers said they are expecting to hold another demonstration next Sunday afternoon at Curtis Hixon Park, hoping it will be a celebration of an overthrown regime.