Beverly Hills Rally Denounces Iranian Government

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — A massive Beverly Hills rally on Saturday called for solidarity with Iran amid weeks of global protest after a woman's in-custody death.

Videos show hundreds of people gathered Saturday near Beverly Hills City Hall and marching through city streets with Iranian flags and white clothing. Demonstrations have persisted for weeks throughout the country as Iranians continue to protest the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in custody in Tehran on Sept. 16 after being detained by Iranian morality police three days earlier.

Authorities claimed she failed to follow the country's dress code with an improper head covering, according to experts with the United Nations Human Rights Council.

"Overwhelmed with emotions. My heart is full. Today’s rally for Solidarity with the Heroic People of Iran was truly powerful. I can’t put into words how deeply it touched my soul to march through our streets UNITED," Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse said in an Instagram post.

READ MORE: Thousands Protest In Los Angeles After Woman's Death In Iran (Photos)

Amini and others' deaths prompted global conversations about the Iranian government. Treatment of protesters in Iran has become a key focus, especially as Iranian lawmakers intensified their intention to crack down on protests this week, CNN reported.

"This is a moment where we should set aside our differences — idealogical, any kind of differences, political differences — and focus on one thing, and that is: freedom, human rights, liberty, democracy," actress Nazanin Boniadi said at Saturday's protest. "For 43 years the regime has broken us, fragmented us, divided us — enough."

Beverly Hills City Council on Sept. 28 and again on Oct. 11 formally denounced the Iranian government. City hall has been lit up with the words "justice for Mahsa Amini" since Sept. 22.

The city's Oct. 11 motion reads: the city of Beverly Hills "condemns the regime for its brutality, antidemocratic oppression of its citizens and documented human rights violations, especially against women, students and minorities. The city of Beverly Hills calls upon the government of the United States... to engage in all efforts to increase sanctions against the regime in Iran, cease current and future negotiations with the regime in Iran... and not to release any assets frozen in the United States until there is a regime change."

The United States has imposed a number sanctions against Iranian officials and entities, including Iran's morality police, following protests and crackdowns, according to CNN.