Michael Ignatieff, Liberal Party Leader
at "Silent Scream for Iran"

Media Links

1. Vancouver Sun

2. Georgia Straight

3. CBC News Interview

4. The Province (Human Chain Draws 2500)

5. SHAHRGON (Farsi)

6. CTV News

7. The Province

8. CTV BC

9. Vancouver Sun

10. North Shore News

11. Metro Vancouver

12. The Tyee (Thousands gather in silence to hear cries from Iran)

13. The Vancouver Observer (The Vigil: "Freedom and peace, please")

14. The Vancouver Observer (Bob Rae says bravery in Iran teaches us about true humanity)

15. Orato | Vancouver community protests Iranian violence

16. The Vancouver Observer (A tragedy of thirty years ago, and a traqgedy from last week)

17. CBC News (Citizen Byte - your photos)

What we Stand For:

The past few days, have held a turbulent political atmosphere in Iran; and we, the Canadian-Iranian community have once again organized a show of solidarity with the brave women and men who have poured to the streets of Iran to defend their democratic rights.

Iran's tenth presidential election took place on 12 June 2009. The two main contenders were the reformist Mir-Hossein Mousavi, and the hard-line incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. After the closing of the polling stations, more than 39 million handwritten paper ballots were "counted" in a matter of hours, and Ahmadinejad was declared the winner by a large land-slide. A strong suspicion of election process to have been “rigged,” has caused hundreds of thousands of Iranians to pour to the streets of all major cities in Iran in protest.

They however, were confronted with brutal suppression. The protesters are beaten with batons, chains, knives, and tear gas, and unfortunately murdered by plain clothed militia and intelligence forces. To date, 15 students have been confirmed dead as a result of mid-night attacks on university dormitories, and another 8 have lost their lives to gunfire at the protests; hundreds have been arrested.

Hence in the memory of the lives lost, in genuine support of those injured and arrested, and in absolute unity with the multitude that fiercely remains, we will scream in silence. Starting on June 16th, we will gather every night for 10 days at 21:30 to 22:00, because it is then that our courageous people chant in harmony for their freedom from their rooftops every night. We will wear black to mourn, we will hold candles to hope, and we will remain silent to let their voices be heard.

Please join us to support the people of Iran in condemnation of police brutality against peaceful demonstrators and in their right to fight for democracy. We need to ask our fellow Vancouverites, other Canadians, the government of Canada, and the world to stop the Iranian government from the persecution of the Iranian people and respect their democratic will.

We are an independent grassroots movement and are not affiliated with any political organizations or factions. Our main demands are for the government of Iran to end the violence against protesters, to release all associated prisoners, and to resume all means of communication. We are counting on your support.