While a crowd took to New York City streets to protest Saturday’s deadly strikes in Iran, others gathered to rejoice. Video from Los Angeles showed Iranian Americans celebrating the U.S. and Israeli military action in the Middle East. Some are calling the attack a necessary step after nearly five decades of dictatorship.
Washington, D.C. also saw cheers of joy and excitement, after the U.S. and Israel bombed government targets in Iran.
“We were all crying together because we were so happy,” said Roudabeh Riggs, an organizer with Lion Sun NY.
Fellow organized Saman Moghaddam told NBC New York, “We see this military act as a positive thing, but at the same time, we know what is the cost.”
Iranian New Yorkers say while they don’t want innocent civilians hurt, After 47 years of the Islamic Republic’s dictatorship and recent anti-regime protests which led to thousands of Iranians being killed, they feel outside intervention is the only way to enact change.
Another organizer with Lion Sun NY, Soudabeh Hessari, believes there was no other option. “We tried. This past 47 years we tried everything, these people tried everything.”
“We are happy the American government and the Israeli government support iranians,” said Lion Sun NY organizer Reza Ebrahimi.
Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad posted a video of herself celebrating on the streets of New York Saturday, yelling in joy “guys, the dictator of Iran is gone!” She shed tears of joy that the Supreme Leader of Iran had been killed. He led the same regime that prosecutors say plotted to assassinate Alinejad — an outspoken critic — several times.
As for what could come next, there’s been growing support in recent months for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the former Shah of Iran to be the transitional leader. Pahlavi issued a statement Saturday in support of U.S. intervention. He urged Iran’s military and law enforcement forces to defect.
“After that, people can vote and choose the next regime and we just hope to have freedom and peace in Iran,” said Riggs.