“Heavily armed police prevented several thousand Iranian protesters Saturday from entering Revolution Square — one of the main protest sites in Tehran.”
CNN Associated Press. “Police block protest site in Tehran, witnesses say.” Retrieved June 20, 2009 from [Source]
Approximately one mile from the Revolution Square, Iranian police with armor and weapons kept the crowd back by throwing canisters of tear gas at the ground on Saturday.
On Friday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made a statement to the public and stated that the election results were not rigged and the protests must end or there will be a crackdown and that the protest organizers would be held responsible if the demonstrations led to bloodshed. There were two rallies that were scheduled to begin the day after the Ayatollah spoke at the Revolution Square where they were to demonstrate opposition to the presidential election results and expose a cry for freedom.
Iranian state-run media reported the two rallies were canceled, but that has not been confirmed by the backers of Moussavi, whom is supposed to be leading a major rally at the Revolution Square. More than 200 heavily-armored police officers massed Saturday afternoon to prevent protestors in reaching Freedom Square. Thousands of Iranian people are coming from several sectors of the capitol and still is resisting government orders.
Several protesters state that this opposition is very ambiguous and several people used the social networking site Twitter as a means of communicating to other family members and friends. As the government prohibits media attention, cameras and pictures, Iranian people are finding alternative ways in sending pictures, communicating and informing the international community about the violence occurring in Iran. The government, in response, has cut off internet connections, phone services and confiscated video cameras to prevent the world from seeing the opposition in Iran. Such attempts are ineffective as millions of Iranian people are finding methods to oppose the government in every aspect.
In the United States, the Republican Party is at odds with President Barack Obama for not initiating or making any statements pertaining to the Iranian crisis. Many argue that the United States should play a role in ensuring Iranian freedom by interfering in their needs and demands. President Obama strongly opposes meddling into Iranian affairs as it has historically backfired on the United States in 1979 as the Shah was overthrown after 26 years or rule, and the taking of the U.S. embassy.
The Iranian people seem to want to continue to demonstrate protests of the Iranian leadership of Ahmadinejad. Officials state that the Ayatollah’s power is not at risk, but if constant bloodshed continues and more lives are killed, it can be probable. So far, the Iranian people want a revote of the general election and demand change for their country.
As these demonstrations have a clueless conclusion, the world remains to watch the end result of the future of Iran that is in the midst of changing. Regardless of what will happen, these demonstrations will enforce Iran to change policies and for people to demand new leadership. Ahmadinejad’s life can be threatened for the remaining four years he has if he chooses to continue with his term, or if the government does not prove otherwise that he lost the election. The United States must only step in if violence heightens and if too many lives are lost. Until then, the U.S. must continue to watch and listen to the Iranian people as they will determine their countries future.
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CS
