Bay Area Iranian community reacts to protests, mass killings by government in Iran
For many Iranian Americans in the Bay Area, the last few weeks have been agonizing.
"What's going on right now in Iran isn't a protest like many still think it is. It's a full-scale revolution," said Eemon Malek-Madani.
Since the end of December, millions of people in Iran have taken to the streets demanding an end to the country's Islamic dictatorship.
As the government has cracked down on the protesters, some human rights group estimate that as many as 12,000 have already been killed.
"They're gunning down people in the streets by the hundreds at a time. We got a report that there were 1600 bodies in Isfahan. There were 1,000 dead bodies in Kahrizak hospital," said Arman Mahmoudi.
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Mahmoudi helps run the local group BayArea4Iran.
He says the overwhelming majority of Iranians here locally have friends or family still in the country.
While they wait for news to trickle in, BayArea4Iran has held several rallies in support of the protesters.
Mahmoudi says, despite the brutal repercussions, many people in Iran itself feel like they have nothing left to lose.
"You're living in a country where you don't have much to live for. You work your hardest and get a degree, there's no jobs. Even if you get a job, there's inflation and people can't feed their families," said Mahmoudi.
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While there have been dozens of widespread protests against the Iranian regime in recent years, many Iranians here like Eemon Malek-Madani, say this time feels different.
"It's definitely different this time. It's definitely different. We are going to take our country back. I know that for a fact," he said.
Malek-Madani tells ABC7 News he thinks about his friends and family in the country nonstop.
And for all those on the ground that he's currently unable to get in contact with, Malek-Madani sends this message.
"To my brave brothers and sisters back home, do not stop fighting. We are all behind you in the diaspora. And the world hears you and the world sees you. Your courage is second to none," said Malek-Madani.
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