Ghazal Adibi and some other undergraduate friends also participated in the rally, and even held a small protest beforehand on campus. Ghazal, pictured in the middle holding the Iranian Imperial flag which is used as a symbol of opposition to the Islamic Republic, was joined by Elizabeth Ochoa and Isabelli Li. Ghazal shares:
As someone who emmigrated from Iran when I was 13, it was really meaningful to see other Iranians and other supporters come together and protest for the brave women in Iran. I get really emotional thinking about the fact that if I hadn't immigrated to the US, there is a very strong chance I would be one of the many Iranian women that have been murdered by the regime. These women are consistently silenced by the regime and a protest like this is much more meaningful than people may realize. 
I think it's important to remind people that a protest against the violent regime in Iran IS NOT a protest against Islam. I think it can be confusing for some people, especially since most of these protests are held in Farsi and non-speakers may not understand exactly what's going on. 
We also held a small protest on campus before the one downtown, which was great because I got to answer some questions for people who were wondering what life in Iran is like. I hope to help people understand the beauty of Iranian culture, and get rid of the harmful misconceptions that western media portrays about the Middle East. 
 

For more photos of the rally, check out OMA's instagram, and Randy Blackford's facebook. 

October is a FULL Month

We hope by now you knew that the first 2 weeks of October are the final 2 weeks of the month-long celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. What started as a week back in 1968, was expanded to a month in 1988. But what you may not have realized are the other groups who also celebrate in October.

• Beginning celebrations in 2009, October is Filipino American History month. October commemorates the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental US, which occurred on October 18, 1587, when “Luzones Indios” came ashore from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza and landed at what is now Morro Bay, California.
• LBTQ History month also claims October for celebration, and was first celebrated in 1994. In the United States, Canada, & Australia, it is celebrated in October to coincide with National Coming Out Day on October 11 and to commemorate the first and second marches on Washington in 1979 and 1987 for LGBT rights.
• October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). This month evolved from the First Day of Unity observed in October 1981, which spread to a week, and then to a month back in 1987.
• Finally, held for the first time just last year in 2021, Hindu Heritage month is also celebrated in October. October is significant to this group because it is the birth month of Mahatma Gandhi and is often when major Hindu holidays such as Navaratri and Diwali are celebrated.

Check out OMA's (growing) Display of Cultural Group Leaders

We're featuring leaders of the cultural groups at CWRU in a display on our wall in OMA. Along with their hometowns, major, and year, leaders answered some questions to help you get to know them better. Check out the growing display in OMA - and if you don't see your group, encourage your president to reply to the email we've sent out!