San Francisco, June 29, 2025 – On Sunday, Iranian-Americans and supporters of Iran’s democratic opposition gathered at San Francisco’s Union Square to commemorate the 44th anniversary of the June 20, 1981 uprising—known as the start of Iran’s nationwide resistance against the clerical regime.
Organized by the Iranian American Community of Northern California (IAC NorCal), and supported by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), the event featured a compelling photo exhibition that drew significant attention from the public and major Bay Area media outlets including NBC Bay Area, KTVU, KPIX-TV, and KCBS Radio.
The exhibition showcased four decades of struggle by the Iranian people and their organized resistance against tyranny, executions, and systemic repression. Attendees called for global recognition of the Iran Third Option:
🔹 No to war
🔹 No to appeasement
🔹 Yes to democratic regime change by the people of Iran
Speakers and participants emphasized that the Iranian people do not seek foreign intervention, but rather international acknowledgment of their right to resist and to pursue a secular, democratic, and non-nuclear republic.
“What Iranians need isn’t arms or money—but recognition of their organized resistance,” NBC Bay Area’s report quoted organizers as saying.
The exhibition honored the sacrifices of thousands who were executed or imprisoned by the regime, while also amplifying the voices of today’s MEK Resistance Units active inside Iran. It also highlighted the leadership of NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi and her 10-point plan for a free and democratic Iran.
Photos, reports, and tweets from the event:
Coverage of our Photo Exhibition by @KPIXtv's John Ramos.
Message is clear: No to war. No to appeasement.
Yes to recognizing the right of the Iranian people, their organized resistance, and #MEKResistanceUnits to confront #IRGCTerrorists. pic.twitter.com/6PEioVujF7— Iranian-American Community of NorCal (@IACNorCal) June 29, 2025
Report by @CristinaKTVU of @KTVU on our SF Photo Exhibition marking 44 years of Iranian Resistance.#IranThirdOption means no to war & appeasement—yes to @Maryam_Rajavi and the #NCRIAlternative for regime change by the people of Iran. pic.twitter.com/79x1os74uG
— Iranian-American Community of NorCal (@IACNorCal) June 29, 2025
Thank you @KCBSRadio for your coverage of @IACNorCal photo exhibit today at SF Union Square and echoing our voices and stand for the Iran’s Third Option:
🟨No to War,
🟨No to Appeasement of mullahs
🌫️🌫️Yes , to Regime Change in Iran BY Iranian People and its Democratic… pic.twitter.com/PEMTVWglmp— SK (@ShanazRx) June 29, 2025
.Thank you @MeganGoldsby & .@KCBSRadio for the powerful report on our Photo Exhibition in SF, airing every hour since 5 PM!
Our message is clear: No to war & appeasement. Yes to #IranThirdOption & regime change by the people of Iran.#NCRIAlternative #FreeIran2025 pic.twitter.com/rubrNNXVZd
— Iranian-American Community of NorCal (@IACNorCal) June 29, 2025
Report by @nbcbayarea's @Gia_Vang on our SF Photo Exhibition marking Iran's Day of Resistance (June 20).
What Iranians need isn’t arms or money—but recognition of their organized resistance, the #NCRIAlternative & #MEKResistanceUnits.@Maryam_Rajavi pic.twitter.com/spLtvltdmO
— Iranian-American Community of NorCal (@IACNorCal) June 29, 2025
The rally concluded with chants of “Free Iran” and “No to appeasement” as demonstrators stood in solidarity with those resisting inside Iran.