Friend,

It's been one year since Mahsa Amini was killed by police in Iran, simply because she was "improperly" wearing her hijab.

Since then, countless brave Iranians have taken to the streets, risking their lives to fight for their basic freedoms. The regime has cracked down, killing over 500 people and detaining more than 20,000 — but they cannot extinguish this movement. Solidarity demonstrations have spread around the world.

Friend, I lived in Iran until I was five. Women's rights were nonexistent. We couldn't even be seen in the street with men who were not our family.

I still vividly remember hiding in fear from the Revolutionary Guard, and pretending to be a boy just so I could play soccer with my neighbors. Had I grown up in Iran as a queer woman, I may have been killed.

Instead, I had the privilege to grow up in a country where I could dedicate my life to the fight for civil liberties, and use my voice in defense of the powerless. Today and everyday, I am proud to stand in solidarity with the incredibly courageous women and girls who are leading the fight for human rights in Iran.

With gratitude,

— Mayor Sepi Shyne
#WomanLifeFreedom