Sign the petition and demand media outlets and cable networks in the United States support protesters in Iran!
Dear MoveOn member,
There are historic protests happening right now in Iran, which globally may well be the first time in history that women have been both the spark and engine for an attempted counter-revolution.1 People all across the country—primarily women, queer folks, and young Gen-Z Iranians—are leading protests against the so-called "morality police" and a repressive regime that killed 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian Jina Amini, known by her government name Mahsa since Kurdish names cannot be legally registered.2
Protesters have a lot to lose, as many are not only risking their safety, but their life as they know it. Dozens of Iranians have already been killed, including teenage girls, and hundreds more have been arrested, disappeared, or sent to "re-education centers" as part of the protests. It's an inspirational uprising for freedom and bodily autonomy that deserves global attention, solidarity and support.
However, most Americans don't even know it's happening. And this isn't by mistake: Iranian authorities have imposed a media blackout. Tragically, through their lack of coverage, major U.S. media outlets are perpetuating a media blackout of their own.3
Authorities have blocked Instagram and WhatsApp—and other social media apps that are primarily used to communicate with family and friends internationally—while increasing government surveillance and limiting internet access for citizens in Iran.4 Iranians are demanding attention and for their voices to be uplifted, or they will face further crackdowns and violence when the world no longer watches. The U.S. media can play an important role by giving more coverage, airtime, and online prominence to these protesters and to this uprising, which will engage more Americans and help turn more global attention to this historic series of events.
If you scan newspaper headlines or track what's covered on 24-hour cable news and network evening news shows, you'll find very little coverage of Iran—or if they do have a segment or interview, it often gets the story wrong. A lot of the coverage coming out from the United States focuses overwhelmingly on economic pressures and geopolitics, further erasing the feminist spark at the center of all of these protests. And even worse, these segments all too often turn to Americans instead of voices that are emerging from within Iran.
Despite the regime's best efforts, Iranians inside Iran are still managing to share their stories, protests, and demands for an end to the regime and its repression on social media, and through family and friends.5 We have an opportunity to be in solidarity with the brave people in Iran and bring much-needed visibility and amplification to their stories and wishes for change within their country. Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.
Thanks for all you do,
–Mana, Justin, Cheryl, Nakia, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "Iran’s Protests Are the First Counter-Revolution Led by Women." The New Yorker, October 9, 2022
https://act.moveon.org/go/169089?t=12&akid=336193%2E40999114%2EZzKy3H
2. "'No going back'": Gen Z at the forefront of protests in Iran," Axios, October 17, 2022
https://act.moveon.org/go/169042?t=14&akid=336193%2E40999114%2EZzKy3H
3. "Iranians see widespread internet blackout amid mass protests," The Associated Press, September 21, 2022
https://act.moveon.org/go/169043?t=16&akid=336193%2E40999114%2EZzKy3H
4. "As unrest grows, Iran restricts access to Instagram, WhatsApp," Reuters, September 21, 2022
https://act.moveon.org/go/169044?t=18&akid=336193%2E40999114%2EZzKy3H
5. "How Iran’s protests transformed into a national uprising," CNN, October 13, 2022
https://act.moveon.org/go/169045?t=20&akid=336193%2E40999114%2EZzKy3H
You're receiving this petition because we thought it might interest you. It was created on MoveOn.org, where anyone can start their own online petitions. You can start your own petition here.
Want to support our work? Right-wing groups are spending tens of millions of dollars on TV ads to smear critical progressive legislation. Meanwhile, donations to progressive groups like MoveOn are plummeting now that a Democrat is in the White House, meaning we don’t have the resources to fight back. That's a huge problem, and that's why we urgently need your support.
Will you chip in to fight right-wing lies and pass urgent legislation to confront the multiple crises our country faces?
Click here to chip in $3, or whatever you can afford.
Contributions to MoveOn Civic Action are not tax-deductible for income tax purposes. This email was sent to John xxxxxx on October 20, 2022. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. MoveOn's privacy policy was recently updated. To read our new privacy policy, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.