LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 14, as part of a Global Day of Action in solidarity with the ongoing protests inside Iran and across the diaspora.
The rally, centered around City Hall, drew members of the Iranian community and supporters from across Southern California and out of state to demand an end to the violent crackdown on protesters in Iran and to call for political change.
Protesters marched peacefully through the streets, chanting slogans calling for freedom, human rights and an end to repression by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Many held posters and banners urging global intervention and an end to the killing and imprisonment of unarmed civilians. Demonstrators emphasized the human cost of the unrest in Iran, where rights groups say thousands have been killed in a government crackdown on dissent since January 2026.
The Global Day of Action was sparked by a call from exiled Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi, who urged Iranians around the world to unite and raise their voices against theocratic rule, outlining demands that included freedom of political expression and the dismantling of repressive institutions. Rallies were held simultaneously in major cities worldwide, including Munich and Toronto, making this one of the largest coordinated demonstrations in support of Iranian protesters in recent history.
Participants in Los Angeles said the protest was about more than politics; it was personal. Many spoke of their own experiences fleeing the country or family and friends in Iran whose lives have been upended by the crisis. Some protesters also called on the U.S. government to take a stronger stance, arguing that international pressure and no negotiation with the Islamic Republic is critical for meaningful change.
As the Global Day of Action drew to a close in downtown Los Angeles, the message from demonstrators was clear: they would keep showing up and rallying for freedom and justice in Iran, which has support not just within its borders but around the world.
