Today marks the 10th anniversary of the Iran student protests, which is why the Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran and the Iran Society plan to rally outside the Earle Cabell Federal Building on Commerce Street. What time? Not sure. They only told the Associated Press "midday."
MoveOn.org is much more specific in its scheduling: It sends word that come straight-up noon today, it'll gather a few folks to protest in front of Sen. John Cornyn's office at 5001 Spring Valley Road. Why come? In short: health care reform. MoveOn.org, of course, is for President Obama's public-option plan; Cornyn, of course, is very much against it. But he's not opposed to spending a pile of taxpayer cash to travel in style.
Update at 1:08 p.m.: Bill Holston's just returned from downtown; after the jump, his report from the scene of the Iranian protest.
Just returned from the march. Maybe 300 people on the sidewalk in front of the Federal Courthouse. Children, students, old folks, lots of American and Iranian flags. Lots of posters with photos of Neda, the young lady murdered in the protests in Iran. It was scorching, but people marched down Commerce and over to Main.
My favorite part were the new citizens walking across the street from the Federal Courthouse, where they must have had a citizenship ceremony. I thought how appropriate that they walk out on to a street protest by people whose relatives are shot for this very thing. My favorite chant:"Neda, Neda is our voice/Lots of people said, "Thank you for being here and showing support." Not a bad way to spend lunch hour.
"Freedom, Freedom is our choice."