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Unrest Abroad Unites Iranian-American Community in Atlanta
(2009-06-23)
(WABE) - Many Iranian-Americans in Atlanta say that the unrest in their mother country has inspired never-before-seen unity in the community here. They vowed to continue demonstrating, despite today's announcement that Iran's disputed election results will not be overturned.

WABE's Odette Yousef reports.

Paul Akbar co-publishes a monthly magazine for Iranian-Americans. In his more-than 20 years in Atlanta, he's never seen the community come together as it did on Saturday, at a downtown demonstration:

AKBAR: I saw so many older faces that I had not seen in a long time, and that was refreshing.

Because his publication is for all Iranian-Americans, Akbar says he takes no sides on the political outcome of the election. But he says that everyone can rally behind the call for fairness and against violence:

AKBAR: You want what you have here for them. That is your very basic right, is to have a say-so in what goes on in your life, and we feel like our homeland, our birthplace does not enjoy this right.

An Atlanta group has organized a candlelight vigil in Piedmont Park for Tuesday on behalf of those who have died in the protests.

Odette Yousef, WABE News.
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