"When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it--always."

Mahatma Gandhi

RALLY IN ROME - AT THE IRANIAN EMBASSY, July 25, 2009

From 17:00 to 20:00 this evening there was a protest in front of the Iranian Embassy in Rome.  There were many Iranians as well as Italians and others there in solidarity with the Iranian people.  It was a peaceful, but very vocal protest. There was some anger also at Nokia for reports that they had given the Iranian government the tools they needed to spy on the opposition.

A line of policemen stood in front of the embassy and another line stood in front of the protesters.  They were not allowed across the street except for a few minutes in which they laid out photos on the ground in front of the embassy gate.  The photos were of some of the young people who were killed during the protests in Iran.

The young man I interviewed was one of the organizers of the event.   He lives in Italy now.

The fact that so many hid their faces really brought home the lack of freedom they have and the fear they must feel for themselves and their families.  But they came out anyway.

It was very moving to see photos of the faces of the dead being carried by the living.

I subtitled most of the singing and speaking that was done in Italian.  I put some  still photos at iReport http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-304005

This is an amazing moment in history. About 70% of Iran's population is under 30.  The young Iranians at this rally were crying out for democracy.  They are the future of Iran.

*I had uploaded the original edit of the video on Saturday after the event, but when I had more time, I edited it down some more to make it shorter.  So this is the same footage, shorter version.