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Let Freedom Ring

By Chris Baily

June 15, 2009 News No Comments

Something beautiful and terrible and inspiring and frightening and strange is happening in Iran right now.  I’m scared it might be too much to hope for, but it seems like things in this world just dramatically changed, and maybe for keeps.  My hopes and prayers are with the Iranian people as they fight against injustice and tyranny.

The news is coming out slowly on all the major networks as the Iranian government tries to censor the press.  But they can’t seem to stop the internet, as hard as they may try.  Andrew Sullivan has been amazing – below are some of the Twitter feeds he has been publishing on his Atlantic blog – he’s been updating almost constantly as things unfold.  Also check out Nate Silver and the Huffington Post

From Andrew Sullivan via Twitter via Iranians on the ground in Tehran:

Intelligence calling homes and play recording saying “u participated in today’s march, don’t repeat”

Reports of gunfire in Tehran’s Saadatabad district

Tarasht dormitory is seiged by basij

Non stop sound of shooting heard in Tehran

after hearing about killing a person by Basij people from Ikbatan(a part of Tehran) came out & started another demonstration

People are shouting “This Blood in my veins will stop the coup”

Sources in #Tehran say candidate Mehdi Karrubi will speak in 2 hours. He’s protesting results w/#Mousavi.

Hearing Allaho Akbar and Down with dictator from all the roofs

ppl get together in front of our apartment it seems ppl ready for demonstration again in tonight

we are going offline to get a phone free for calling out. we are also moving location – too long here – is dangerous.

we are hearing that large numbers gathering in Tajreesh sq, north tehran, now. rumour that there will be another speech

tonight Kamenei will fight hard – he knows he is close to finish.

3 ppl from our group still not returned from march. no mobile
contact. last phone contact 2 hours ago.


we have decided not to go out now and wait to see if situation calm down.

streets very dangerous now. groups of militia on motorbikes
searching for protesters.

we estimate marchers today were 1 million ++. confirmed at least one dead in azadi sq – first hand.

confirmed – it was unprovoked attack by Baseej. People running to hide everywhere in streets around Azadi.

Original

People are running in streets outside. There is panic in streets. people going ino houses to hide.

Baseej shooting in Azadi sq – army standing by and watching for now.

Dr. Jebhe Dar Maralani, the president of Tehran University’s College of Electronics resigned in protest to last night’s killing of five students.

Gard1 From Ahvaz: Around Ahavaz bridge the sounds of gunshots can be heard. People have gathered in Naderi street. Cell phones have been disconnected in this city.

Satellite TV is jammed… Internet is slow… Cell phone service coming and going… the night is coming in… this makes one worried

People in Rasht being hunted by police forces, reportedly with teargas. Those in their houses shelter the ones running.

We have heard what sounds like gunshots in distance. still have people on streets we have not heard from.

As it gets dark Basij expected target University dorms again

AT LEAST ONE DEAD AFTER PRO-GOVERNMENT MILITIA OPEN FIRE AT OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS IN TEHRAN. Pls RT!

People are getting killed in Azadi Sq.

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