Demonstrators at Curtis Hixon Park call for freedom as families mourn reported deaths and fear for loved ones amid internet shutdowns.<\/p>\n
TAMPA, Fla. \u2014 A show of solidarity unfolded Sunday in downtown Tampa as members of the Iranian diaspora gathered to call for regime change in Iran<\/a>, drawing together some of the estimated 5,000 Iranians living in the Tampa Bay area.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cSo 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,\u201d said Tampa resident Shazi Eslahi.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> during two weeks of protests in January.<\/p>\n \u201cThey’ve been killing people left and right. They’ve been killing people thousands by thousands,\u201d Eslahi said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt 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.<\/p>\n