Whereas, the dictatorial regime controlling Iran for over 40 years has created a gender apartheid system by depriving women of the right to make decisions about their bodies and forcing restrictive clothing, and making women second class citizens who cannot work in any profession of their choosing, who cannot sing or dance in public, and who have limited civil, marital, and legal rights; and
Whereas, on September 16, 2022, Masha Amini died after being detained for 3 days in the Regime’s morality police custody, who enforces a mandatory dress code for women in Iran, because her hair was partially showing under her hijab; and
Whereas, the women who were detained with Masha reported that she was beaten and died as a result of police brutality, however, the police force claimed that Masha Amini died from a heart attack at the police station even though there were visible bruises on Masha’s head and throughout Masha’s body; and
Whereas, Masha Amini’s death resulted in an uproar of protest around the United States for the past year and were led by women and girls who seek freedom and demand basic human rights, uniting all Iranians across all ethnicities, religious and economic backgrounds; and Whereas, protestors chanted “Woman, Life, Freedom”, women and girls removed thei r mandatory hijabs, and cut their hair to fight against gender-based discrimination; and Whereas, the Regime responded to these protests with arrest, forced disappearances, torture, and deadly force, killing at least 500 protesters, which included children as young as 9 years old, and arrested thousands of protestors in the last year alone; and Whereas, the City of Richmond recognizes women’s rights as human rights; and Whereas, the City of Richmond stands in solidarity with the brave Iranian women, men, a nd children seeking their basic and inalienable human rights.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Richmond does hereby proclaim September 16, 2023, as Masha Amini Day.
Gayle McLaughlin Soheila Bana_______ Vice Mayor Gayle Mclaughlin Councilmember Soheila Bana, District 5 District 4
Proclamation Proclaiming September 16, 2023, as
Masha Amini Day
September 16, 2023 (retroactively)