As I went to bed last night I heard the calls for there were threats that live ammunition would be used on protesters today. I worried. Would this be the end of the protests? Would the fact that Iran's clerical government had the streets flooded with militia.
I woke this morning and the new reported that the streets were quiet. Apparently that was the quiet before the storm. Witnesses described fierce clashes after some 3,000 protesters, many wearing black, chanted "Death to the dictator!" and "Death to dictatorship!" near Revolution Square in downtown Tehran. Police fired tear gas, water cannons and guns but it was not clear if they were firing live ammunition.
Police beat protesters and fired tear gas and water cannons at thousands who rallied Saturday in open defiance of Iran's clerical government, sharply escalating the most serious internal conflict since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
We have heard reports that helicopters have dropped acid on the crowds. This has not been substantiated. We then heard that the water cannons had scalding water. There are reports that the police are arresting people who show up to hospitals for treatment. At one point on twitter I heard that protesters were throwing sand onto the streets to make it difficult for the soldiers motorcycles to drive.
The whole situation is just so very fluid and it's caught the attention of the world. If it were not for technology, things like cell phones, twitter, youtube, facebook, and myspace might not this uprising have been quelled with mass killings and government denials. This is a country that is not above murdering their own people.
What will happen? I don't know. Will the protests continue or will they be put down violently? What will America do? Will we stand idly by? Will we go into the country with covert operatives? I am praying for these people. Praying for the men and women who long for change from an oppressive government.
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