Beverly Hills, CA (December 11, 2019) - The Beverly Hills City Council Tuesday night unanimously voted to support protestors in Iran who are deeply concerned about the state of their country.

In January of 2018, the City Council adopted its first resolution in support of protestors in Iran. Those protests began in late 2017 and were spurred by high inflation; unemployment; discrimination towards others based on religion, gender, and sexual orientation; and restrictions on personal freedoms, which created widespread frustration and anger with poor living conditions and the lack of opportunities in Iran.

Last month, a new series of civil protests began in numerous cities across Iran due to a 200 percent increase in fuel prices. The protests then extended to an outcry against the current regime in Iran and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Mayor John Mirisch requested the City Council approve a resolution reaffirming the City’s support for the protestors in Iran.  “We must stand with the people of Iran against these atrocities,” said Mayor Mirisch.  “These are voices that must be heard and it’s our hope the people of Iran will soon be able to live in a country with liberty and justice for all.”

Below is the text of the approved resolution:

WHEREAS, the people of Iran have a history of forcefully protesting and successfully overturning unpopular despotic and tyrannical national governments; and

WHEREAS, over the past few years, high inflation; unemployment; discrimination towards others based on religion, gender, and sexual orientation; and restrictions on personal freedoms have created widespread frustration and anger with poor living conditions and the lack of opportunities in Iran; and

WHEREAS, on December 28, 2017 demonstrations broke out in the City of Mashhad and have spread throughout the country, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries and hundreds of arrests as protestors clashed with security forces; and

WHEREAS, the City of Beverly Hills adopted Resolution 18-R-13172 supporting the protestors in Iran; and

WHEREAS, in the early hours of November 15, 2019 the Iranian government announced a 200 percent increase in the price of fuel causing Iranians in various cities to protest, which then evolved to protesting the Iranian the current regime in Rian and the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei; and

WHEREAS, on November 16, 2019 protestors gathered in over 50 Iranian cities where conflicts between Iran’s security forces and the protestors became violent with the security forces shooting live ammunition at protestors in an effort to disperse them; and

WHEREAS, the government of Iran implemented a near-total shutdown of the internet and jammed satellite television connections to prevent videos of the clashes between the protestors and security forces from being shared with the world; and

WHEREAS, the estimated number of civilians killed by Iranian security forces ranges from 115-200 people with thousands more injured; and

WHEREAS, at least 1,000 people have been arrested with 100 standing accused for leading the violent antigovernment protests and may face the death penalty; and

WHEREAS, the City of Beverly Hills stands with the voices of liberty in Iran and around the world and supports the right of free speech and the protestors demand for freedom, human rights, and economic justice;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Beverly Hills resolves as follows:

Section 1. The City of Beverly Hills reaffirms its support of the efforts of the protestors in Iran and urges other cities around the nation and the world to join the City in supporting the protests in Iran.

Section 2. The City of Beverly Hills requests Iran provide the right of free speech, basic human rights, and economic justice to its citizens.

Section 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution and shall cause this resolution and her certification to be entered in the Book of Resolution of the Council of this City.

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