Demonstrators, including many originally from Iran and with family still in Iran, gathered at the Waterwall on Sunday and then marched through the streets.
HOUSTON — A large crowd of protesters gathered Sunday near the Waterwall in Houston’s Galleria area, calling for an end to the regime in Iran and voicing support for sweeping political change in the country.
At least a couple of thousand demonstrators attended the protest, many of them originally from Iran with family members still living in Iran. Protesters chanted, waved flags, and later marched through nearby streets, demanding justice and new leadership.
Chants rang out across the park, including “Regime change for Iran!” and “Freedom for Iran!”
The Houston demonstration follows weeks of anti-government protests in Iran that have turned deadly. The Human Rights Activists News Agency said Sunday it had verified more than 3,900 deaths. However, sources told CBS News that at least 12,000 people, and possibly as many as 20,000 people, have died.
For many in the crowd, the protests were deeply personal. Azadeh Karimian, who lives in The Woodlands, said she fears for her family amid an internet blackout in Iran that has made communication nearly impossible.
“I was worried like hell,” Karimian said. “My parents live in Iran, and I knew that my mother, a 75-year-old lady, she was going to the protests herself, and I was very worried if she’s alive or not. Fortunately, she is fine. However, I didn’t have any news from my parents for like five, six days.”
As demonstrators spilled into the streets for a march through the Galleria area, chants continued: “We want justice!” and “Down with Islamic Republic!”
Some protesters voiced support for restoring Iran’s monarchy.
“We need the Shah back, we want the Shah back. He’s the best person for the job. That’s what we’re here for. That’s what we’re fighting for,” Houston resident Ali Arjmandi said.
Others called for U.S. involvement, chanting, “Trump, act now! Trump, act now!”
Mani Malek, a Houston resident, said she is looking to the United States – and specifically President Trump – for help.
“We need his power,” Malek said. “I want to see the support.”
However, not everyone agreed with the idea of U.S. intervention.
“I’m just terrified that, as an American as well, it’s not really our place to force another country to have a certain kind of government,” Houston resident Daniel Falsafi said. “As an American, we cannot influence other countries. It is not our place.”
Despite differing opinions on how change should come, demonstrators said they share a common goal: freedom for Iran.
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