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Defiant Candlelight Vigil: Iranian-Americans Honor Victims and Demand Justice Outside the UN

Iran Freedom
On September 19, 2025, Iranian-American communities held a poignant candlelight vigil outside the UN in New York, protesting the Iranian regime’s presence and commemorating victims of its brutality.

A Powerful Stand Against Tyranny

As the United Nations General Assembly convenes in New York, the streets outside its headquarters have become a powerful stage for remembrance and resistance. On the evening of September 19, 2025, members of the Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC) and supporters of the Iranian Resistance gathered at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza for a moving candlelight vigil. This event, part of the broader “2025 Free Iran NY Rally” spanning September 17 to 24, directly confronts the arrival of Masoud Pezeshkian—Iran’s president handpicked by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and emblematic of the regime’s escalating repression, including over 1,700 executions in a single year.

Honoring Victims of the Regime’s Brutality

The vigil served as a solemn tribute to the tens of thousands massacred by the clerical regime, from the 1988 prison killings to the ongoing suppression of dissent. Under the glow of flickering candles, participants honored the “brave souls who died fighting the ruthless religious tyrants in Iran,” their sacrifices fueling the unyielding demand for freedom, democracy, and a secular republic. Chants and banners echoed the resistance’s core slogan: #NoToShahNoToMullahs, rejecting both monarchical and theocratic rule while aligning with Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan for a non-nuclear, democratic Iran.

Amplifying Calls for Global Action

Coinciding with urgent discussions on the reimposition of UN Security Council sanctions against the regime, the gathering amplified calls for global action. Protesters urged policymakers to end Western appeasement, expel Pezeshkian from the UN, and hold the dictatorship accountable for its campaign of terror and human rights abuses. “The world must stand with the Iranian people and their resistance,” organizers emphasized, highlighting the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) as a beacon for democratic change.

A Night of Remembrance and Resistance

Live streams and on-site footage captured the raw emotion of the night: rows of candles illuminating photos of victims, voices rising in unity against the “carnage imposed on the people of Iran,” and a resolute commitment to visibility. Media outreach to outlets like Fox 5 NY, NBC New York, and The New York Times underscored the event’s aim to pierce the international spotlight now focused on the regime’s diplomats.

Part of a Global Movement

This vigil is no isolated act but a continuation of a global movement, building on recent mass protests in Brussels and the enduring legacy of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). As Iranian-Americans from across the U.S. lead the charge, the message is clear: the fight for justice endures, and the flames of resistance will not be extinguished.

Join the Continued Vigil Tonight

Tonight, September 20, the vigil resumes at 7 PM at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, inviting all to join in solidarity. With the week’s rallies culminating on September 23, these gatherings remind the world that the Iranian people’s quest for overthrowing tyranny demands unwavering international support.

 

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