Protesters in support of Mahsa Amini march from the Arts Quad towards Ho Plaza (Photo by Cullen O'Hara/2022)
A demonstration was held on Cornell’s campus following the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iranian “morality police.”
Amini, a 22 year old Iranian woman, was arrested by Iranian authorities last week for improperly wearing her hijab. In response, massive and violent protests have broken out in Iran, prompting a government crackdown. Thousands have been arrested, and over 70 people have been killed. Demonstrations of solidarity have erupted across the world.
Today the Cornell Iranian Graduate Students joined in on Cornell’s campus. Protesters assembled as a steady morning rain beat down on campus, gathering in front of the Ezra Cornell Statue on the Arts Quad. At first, a crowd ranging from 20 to 30 people gathered. The demonstrators bore signs reading “The Islamic Republic vs Iran” and “We stand with the women of Iran.” Other signs protested mandatory hijabs, and still others had pictures of Mahsa Amini.
The group marched to Ho Plaza, chanting “Women, Life, Liberty!”, “Rip down the dictator!” and “Say her name: Mahsa Amini!” A memorial had been assembled at the plaza, which the protestors gathered around. By then, the group had assembled a sizable crowd, nearly 60 strong.
One graduate student said the group hopes to spread awareness about women’s issues in Iran, explaining, “A woman shouldn’t be forced to wear a hijab. They should be free to choose, but they shouldn’t be forced.” She further lamented the violence that ensued after Amini’s death saying, “This started with one woman, but now they’ve killed many others, [and] don’t they matter too?”
Currently, the Iranian media pins 41 deaths on “rioters”, though some international news reports have considerably higher death tolls. Several of the fatalities have been children. The Cornell Iranian Graduate Students’ demonstration brings the recent protests in Iran to the forefront of Cornell’s campus discourse.
