Will Toronto rally for abused Iranians be heard by Ayatollah or Trump?

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Ayatollah Khamenei may not know there could be up to 300,000 people on Toronto streets Saturday hoping for the end of his tyrannical extremist Islamist dictatorship.

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And U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who has posted to social media that “help is on way,” may also be unaware.

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But hopefully the under-siege citizens of Iran know some help is coming from Canadians who are 100% with them in their quest for freedom.

“The rally is being held as part of the Global Day of Action for Iran, called for by Prince Reza Pahlavi (the son of the Shah of Iran who fled in the 1979 revolution), and is expected to draw up to 300,000 participants, including Iranian-Canadians, Canadians, and supporters from diverse communities and nationalities,” states a news release, which also says it will be a “large, peaceful public rally scheduled for Saturday, February 14, beginning at 1 PM, at the intersection of Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue.”

Life or death

With it being life and death for their relatives back home, Iranian-Canadians really need to be there.

“Based on reports from multiple sources, conservative estimates indicate at least 40,000 people have been killed, with hundreds of thousands injured or detained, and thousands suffering permanent injuries, including loss of eyesight,” organizers of the rally say.

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If the crowd of supporters does turn out to be that many, it will be the largest rally so far by the Iranian-Canadian community as they fight for the end of the brutal IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps regime).

It would also be the most people to gather on city streets since the Toronto Raptors 2019 NBA championship parade.

In other words, this will be a major challenge for Toronto Police who have been readying for this planned demonstration.

Const. Viktor Sarudi posted a video in which he said they are expecting up 200,000 at this rally.

“Road restrictions begin as early as 8 a.m., with major closures between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.” Sarudi says. “You’ll see a significant police presence to keep everyone safe and traffic moving. Plan ahead and consider alternate routes.”

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Iranian-Canadians are peaceful people

Toronto Police and York Regional Police have done an outstanding job in policing the previous gatherings, but they get a lot of help from the very respectful Iranian-Canadian diaspora who are nothing like some of the pro-Hamas counter protesters who often go looking to cause trouble.

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Pro-Hamas supporters, so vocal with criticism about Israel’s prosecution of a war following the slaughter on Oct. 7, 2023, have been silent about horrors occurring on innocent citizens in Iran.

Will Ayatollah hear it?

Participants in Toronto will gather peacefully to call for international attention, accountability and support for democratic change in Iran.

“The rally is centered around six core demands, including: protection of Iranian civilians and an end to repression, cutting the regime’s financial resources, internet freedom for the Iranian people, accountability for regime officials, release of political prisoners and support for a democratic transition in Iran,” organizers say.

Meanwhile, the world also waits to see what Trump will do to help free the people of Iran. Iranian-Canadians will let him know what they think at this rally in Toronto on Saturday.

And hopefully Ayatollah Khamenei hears the crowd’s message.

jwarmington@postmedia.com

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