Ace: According to niac crowds are chanting

“I welcome death I welcome death But not subjugation But Not subjugation”

from NIAC -- MUCH more there

4:27 pm: Moussavi’s open letter to the people of Iran. Released tonight at 9:21pm. It states that he stands with the people to protect the original aims of the revolution to reach human rights and democracy. He states that what they got instead was fraud, injustice, torture and lies. He states why he will not stand down and why all the security forces of Iran are brothers and sisters that should support the nation. He says the body charged with investigating the elections is not a neutral body. He calls on authorities to pull the security forces and Basij out of the streets and allow the people’s voices to be heard peacefully. The full letter in Farsi can be found here.

4:13 pm: According to Moussavi’s Facebook page, the police are pouring acid on the demonstrators.

3:59 pm: Washington DC- The most diverse and largest crowd of Iranian Americans came out to show their solidarity for the Iranian people. Old and young generations of Iranian Americans joined forces to stand up against the violence in Iran. The 600 or so people that started at the Iranian Interest Section walked to the White House echoing the chanting “Where is my vote?” and “Stop the killing! Stop the Coup! Free Iran! Free Iran!” Everyone was instructed not to bring flags as to keep people from promoting their own political agendas.

However, before the mass of protesters reached the White House, there was already a group of 12 people from the MKO, whose flags outnumbered them and were chanting, “Death to the Islamic Republic.” However, they were quickly silenced and left the scene when the overwhelming larger group arrived.

2:45 pm: From a contact in Tehran who called and was very shaken up.

“I was out from 4-10pm. Military and Basijis were everywhere. They wouldn’t let anyone go though. Every time there was a group of us, they would shoot us with water guns and disperse all of us. They wouldn’t let us in to where we were supposed to protest.

They had paintball guns which they shot into the crowd and would arrest whoever had a paint mark on them. There was also tear gas everywhere, they would throw it at us and we would throw it back. But it was very dangerous because they all had guns.

I saw a body being carried away. People are afraid to go to the hospital to get treatment for fear of punishment.

Security and police have been confiscating cameras and arresting those who are taking footage. I saw this young guy taking a video and 5 people attacked him and throughout it all he help his hand up with a peace sign- then they arrested him. They have also handcuffed students to the Tehran University fence.

We talk to some normal police and patrolling cops- they are nice and are trying to help people. But it is the Basij and anti-riot [police] that are ruthless. They have been brought in from out of town. There are also many undercover cops.

Also, we don’t watch state media because it takes our hope away. I’m going to go back out, but
my cell phone doesn’t work and I don’t know how I will find people.”