Patrick Kennedy: both sides of the regime “Hardliners, reformists” are on the side of oppression. All of them are on the side of dictatorship. And if you never thought that the MEK was making a difference all you need to know is that the MEK Is the target, the top target, of these mullahs as they attempt to bomb both in Albania and in the Paris gathering. They are targeting in the US, the MEK activists. Why would the regime spend so much time and energy targeting the MEK if they did not know that the MEK was an existential threat to their continuing as a fascist dictatorship in Iran!?
Patrick Joseph Kennedy is an American politician and mental health advocate.From 1995 to 2011, he served as a Democraticmember of the United States House of Representatives from Rhode Island’s 1st congressional district. He is the founder of the Kennedy Forum, a former member of the President’s Commission on Combatting Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, and co-founder of One Mind.
So, I’ve said in previous events, when it came to standing up for those who are trapped in Ashraf when it came to other struggles for human rights for Iran, that this is not an Iranian issue this is a human rights issue. And it’s the reason why we have people from all over the world gathered here to mark this thirtieth anniversary of thirty thousand political prisoners being summarily executed by a totalitarian fascist regime. Because we must remember them. Because if it can happen in Iran, in a modern era, it can happen anywhere in the world, where people do not stand up for human rights and those who suffered.
Martin Niemöller, a famous writer about the Jewish Holocaust, once said about the Nazis that first, they came for the gypsies, but I was not a gypsy so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, but I was not a trade unionist. So I did not speak out. Then they came for the Catholics, then they came for the Jewish. I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And finally, they came for me and there was no one left to speak out.
Speech by Patrik kenedi, The Roots of the Nationwide Uprisings & its Prospect, August 25, 2018
We are here today to remember these thirty thousand martyrs because it’s important for all of us to know that they are for the grace of God goes each and every one of us and our families. And that is why I say this is not just an Iranian cause, this is a universal human rights cause. And as I often say it is for that reason that I proclaim “Man Irani hastam”, (I’m an Iranian).
How incredible it is that on this thirtieth anniversary of this martyrs died for freedom in Iran that we have a new generation of people in Iran willing to stand up and proclaim their support for a new Iran that is free and democratic and respects the freedom of religion and the role of women in society.
As Maryam Rajavi just said, none of this would happen if it wasn’t for an organization to support these resistance units.
https://iranfreedom.org/en/2018/08/28/maryam-rajavi-1988-massacre-iran/
And I want to thank all of you who are watching this program. I want to thank the MEK/PMOI and Maryam Rajavi because you are the ones who are keeping the flames of resistance going strong. You are the ones who are supporting the young people in Iran who are protesting. And you have the integrity of your beliefs because you were the ones who fought the Shah and you were the ones today fighting a new totalitarian dictatorship. So the PMOI/MEK has been there on the side of freedom whether it was fighting the oppression of the Shah or today fighting the theocratic regime of the mullahs.
In meeting with Patrick Kennedy, we discussed the critical situation of the clerical regime in #Iran, the continued uprisings, and the regime’s resort to terrorism to break out of the crises, which mark the regime’s terminal stage#FreeIran2018https://t.co/rGVpUqP7QO pic.twitter.com/doa5iKj6rp
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) August 27, 2018
Finally, as an indication of how effective you’ve been Madam Rajavi, it is remarkable the courage of the young people today in Iran. They are in the streets across Iran shouting “Down with Khamenei and Rouhani”, “Down with the dictator”. They’re rejecting both sides of the regime saying “Hardliners, reformists the game is over”. They are no longer being confused by those who say they’re moderates. We know that all of them are on the side of oppression. All of them are on the side of dictatorship. And if you never thought that the MEK was making a difference all you need to know is that the MEK Is the target, the top target, of these mullahs as they attempt to bomb both in Albania and in the Paris gathering. They are targeting in the US, the MEK activists. Why would the regime spend so much time and energy targeting the MEK if they did not know that the MEK was an existential threat to their continuing as a fascist dictatorship in Iran!?
MEK should take great pride in the fact that they are the number one target of this clerical fascist regime because it’s a sign that their work trying to bring about change in Iran is a threat to them.
So to the young protesters all across Iran who are honoring the martyrs, thirty thousand martyrs over thirty years ago. They are honoring their sacrifice by taking to the streets all across Iran.
Let me just say a personal word. Today is also the anniversary of my father’s death. But I was very fortunate. My father lived a full life and he died of natural causes. I cannot imagine being any one of those family members who lost their loved one due to the fatwa. I cannot imagine having to live my life no way that somewhere across Iran. My father, my mother, my sister, her brothers remains are scattered somewhere in a field that no one has yet located. So I will say this is why we all are here today to re-pledged ourselves to the sacrifice that was made thirty years ago and to make good on that sacrifice by bringing our back a new and free and democratic Iran.
“Dorood bar kanoonhaye shoreshi”, (long live resistance units).
