More than 1,000 Iranian-Americans and supporters packed the plaza outside San Francisco’s Ferry Building yesterday afternoon, turning the waterfront into a loud, emotional call for regime change in Tehran. The crowd of families, longtime exiles and activists chanted “Free Iran” and demanded an end to the Islamic Republic while waving pre-revolution flags, holding up photos of protesters and hoisting handmade signs. Speakers urged international pressure on Tehran and organizers framed the gathering as the opening shot in a series of Bay Area solidarity actions.
Demonstrators said a deadly crackdown inside Iran, described by human-rights groups, pushed many off the sidelines and into the streets. One protester who gave only her first name, Sherry, told the crowd she feared that speaking publicly could put relatives in Iran at risk. Organizers said they plan more protests in the coming days and weeks, as reported by KPIX.
Voices at the Ferry Building
Sherry, who asked that her last name not be used, wiped away tears as she told the crowd, “They’re killing people,” and described being unable to reach relatives in Iran. Nearby, Samie Moazzami said protesters were hoping that “after 47 years” they might finally see freedom, while Daryoush Nafar urged attendees to accept help from any quarter that offers it. The plaza echoed with chants and songs as rows of pre-revolution flags cut through the foggy air, according to CBS News.
International Toll and U.S. Response
Human-rights monitors say the crackdown inside Iran has been deadly, and a U.S.-based group told Reuters it had verified roughly 490 protesters and 48 security personnel killed, along with more than 10,600 arrests. Reuters also reports that President Trump has said the United States “stands ready to help” and warned that strikes could hit the regime “where it hurts.” Those developments, combined with an internet blackout inside Iran, helped fuel a global wave of solidarity demonstrations.
Tensions Flare Elsewhere
Solidarity rallies took place in cities across the United States on Sunday, and not all stayed peaceful. AP News reported that a U-Haul truck drove into a crowd at a Los Angeles march in Westwood, striking at least one person, and that the driver was detained. The incident underscored how quickly gatherings can turn dangerous and added urgency to activists’ calls for stronger international action.
What's Next
Organizers say they will keep staging events around the Bay Area while pressing for sustained international pressure on Tehran. For now, the Ferry Building serves as a highly visible staging ground where Iranians and their allies wrestle with a hard question that hung over Sunday’s rally: whether outside intervention or internal resistance will ultimately drive change.
