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

LOS ANGELES, CA — Thousands of Angelenos took to the streets over the past week to protest a young woman's in-custody death in Iran, which many suspect was a result of torture.

Los Angeles joined cities around the world with demonstrations honoring 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.

Authorities said Amini had a stroke in custody and fell into a coma before she died, according to Al Jazeera. But Amini's family and human rights organizations like Amnesty International contend Amini was tortured in custody, leading to her death, Al Jazeera reported.

Her death prompted sustained protests in Iran and across the globe.

Demonstrations across Los Angeles showed solidarity with Iranian protesters and denounced the regime, including one outside the Sherman Oaks Gallery on Sept. 25, a vigil in West Hollywood on Sept. 28 and a protest in Westwood Saturday night.

Saturday's protest in Downtown Los Angeles drew in a crowd of thousands, who marched from Pershing Square to City Hall led by a group of motorcyclists and drummers with the L.A. Daf Ensemble.

Saturday's protest was about far more than just the Iranian requirement for women to wear hijab, said actress Nazanin Boniadi. The current movement stands on the shoulders of many brave activists who sacrificed their lives to win rights and freedoms for Iranian women, Boniadi said.

"We owe it to them to rise up, and I'm so happy to see this global movement. We cannot let it die down, die out. Because as I said it's not just about compulsory hijab," Boniadi said. "It's about the fact that women don't have any laws in Iran to protect them from domestic violence — they can't dance in the street, they can't sing solo in the street, they can't ride a bicycle, they can't become president, they can't become judge, they can't become members of the Supreme Council, they can't become Supreme Leader. They have no control over their own destiny and yet they are more educated than the men of Iran."

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At City Hall, attendees heard from a number of local officials, activists and Iranian celebrities. Speakers included: Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse, Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer, Iranian singers Googoosh and Ebi, Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad and more.

"They may have silenced Mahsa Amini's voice but they have not silenced us. We are now responsible for being her voice," Feuer said.

Three people cut their hair in front of the crowd at City Hall in protest, a tactic they learned from women in Iran who have publicly removed and sometimes burned their head coverings and cut their hair.

Sasha Gladkikh, 19, asked her mother if she should wear her hair up or down before Saturday's protest. It was a seemingly simple moment between a mother and daughter, but for Gladkikh, it was a reminder that Amini never got that choice.

"Millions of hearts are broken to see your life end," Gladkikh said, speaking to Amini. "It is imperative for all of us, Iranians and non-Iranians, to unite and demand that human rights must be granted to all people."

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