Demo held in support of Iranian unrest
A demonstration was held Saturday in downtown Montreal in support of anti-government demonstrators in Iran.
I have a memory of running into a pro-Khomeini demonstration downtown years ago, but I can’t find a specific report. I was downtown on my own, probably going to a bookstore, and Ste‑Catherine Street was full of people with flags and placards, including some calling the U.S. the Great Satan. It was interesting.
I found, looking through the Google newspaper archive, a report from the Gazette – “A Victory for Iranians” – on January 17, 1979, as the Shah fled Iran, saying “For years Iranian students have been marching through the streets of Montreal” but nothing else about local demonstrations. And now there are placards demanding the return of the Crown Prince.
Chris 20:40 on 2026-01-10 Permalink
Pahlavi seems particularity popular with the diaspora, but it’s not so clear how much support he has inside Iran. (But of course reliable scientific polling is not available in Islamic theocracies!) Anyway, he claims he only wants to shepherd a transition to democracy, not rule as a king.
Death to the dictator! Death to the Islamic Republic!
Kate 11:45 on 2026-01-12 Permalink
Let’s not sling “death” around, Chris.
MarcG 13:59 on 2026-01-12 Permalink
I’d assumed he was simply echoing the chants of protestors in Iran but haven’t bothered to verify.
Chris 22:35 on 2026-01-12 Permalink
Yes, it is the main chant. I’m not in favour of the death penalty, so I guess Khamenei can live. But Death to the Islamic Republic for sure!
Chris 10:56 on 2026-01-13 Permalink
I should add: today’s chant is a play on the Islamic regime’s chant “Marg bar Âmrikâ” (Death to America). Se we’re literally turning their own chant back against them.