Some of the 2020 presidential candidates, including U.S. President Donald Trump, have tweeted in support of the protests in Iran against the regime that have taken the lives of hundreds of demonstrators.
“Iran has become so unstable that the regime has shut down their entire Internet System so that the Great Iranian people cannot talk about the tremendous violence taking place within the country,” tweeted Trump, the incumbent Republican, on Nov. 21.
He continued: “They want ZERO transparency, thinking the world will not find out the death and tragedy that the Iranian Regime is causing!”
….They want ZERO transparency, thinking the world will not find out the death and tragedy that the Iranian Regime is causing!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 21, 2019
Earlier this month, Iranians took to the streets to protest the decision by the government to increase gasoline prices. According to reports, at least 208 protesters were killed in response by government forces. Many Iranians, who have been struggling economically due to Western sanctions, have blamed the Islamic Republic’s leaders for their economic woes and the country’s isolation. Protesters voiced anger at their governments involvement in wars abroad, especially in country’s like Syria and Yemen, while doing little to ease economic pain back home.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro are the Democrats who have so far stood with the protesters.
“All people have the right to protest for a better future. I call on the Iranian government to end the internet blackout and stop violence against demonstrators,” tweeted Sanders on Nov. 20.
All people have the right to protest for a better future. I call on the Iranian government to end the internet blackout and stop violence against demonstrators. https://t.co/mB45vFDNy5
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) November 20, 2019
“Instead of killing its citizens, violating rights, shutting down the internet, and destabilizing the region, the Iranian government must listen to its people and implement reforms. I stand with the brave people of Iran. #IranProtests,” tweeted Harris on Nov. 22.
Instead of killing its citizens, violating rights, shutting down the internet, and destabilizing the region, the Iranian government must listen to its people and implement reforms. I stand with the brave people of Iran. #IranProtests
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 22, 2019
The same day, Buttigieg tweeted, “I applaud the bravery of the Iranian protestors and I stand with them as they once again rise up to demand change. The Iranian government must take action to improve the lives of its citizens, rather than resorting to violence and censorship to repress protests.”
I applaud the bravery of the Iranian protestors and I stand with them as they once again rise up to demand change. The Iranian government must take action to improve the lives of its citizens, rather than resorting to violence and censorship to repress protests.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) November 22, 2019
“Violence against the Iranian people bravely protesting their government is unacceptable. The government-imposed communications blackout must be fully lifted and the right to protest respected. Iranian-Americans need to be able to connect with their relatives,” tweeted Castro, also on Nov. 22.
Violence against the Iranian people bravely protesting their government is unacceptable.
The government-imposed communications blackout must be fully lifted and the right to protest respected. Iranian-Americans need to be able to connect with their relatives.
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) November 22, 2019
“Iranians have taken to the streets to protest corruption and authoritarianism. This struggle must ultimately be fought and won by the people of Iran, but we support their demand for dignity, freedom to connect to the outside world, and right to peacefully demonstrate,” tweeted Warren on Nov. 23.
Iranians have taken to the streets to protest corruption and authoritarianism. This struggle must ultimately be fought and won by the people of Iran, but we support their demand for dignity, freedom to connect to the outside world, and right to peacefully demonstrate.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) November 23, 2019