Attack on Iran prompts celebrations and protests in LA

LOS ANGELES — People celebrated in the streets of Westwood on Saturday after reports that a U.S.-Israeli attack killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatolla Ali Khameini, while others protested the attack in Little Tokyo.

The U.S. military, with support from Israel, carried out large-scale strikes Saturday on targets within Iran, hitting the capital city of Tehran the hardest but also striking several other cities and reportedly killing Khamenei, who led the country since 1989.

Dozens of people danced, sang and celebrated outside the Federal Building at Wilshire Boulevard and Veteran Avenue, waving Iranian, American and Israeli flags.

Bita Atshani, one of the demonstrators, held a poster with pictures of people imprisoned and killed in Iran and spoke to a freelance photographer about her joy. “Ali Khamenei has finally been murdered,” Atshani said. “We are really happy to finally have the opportunity to get our country back.”

She gave thanks to the American and Israeli people for their support. “We are really grateful to be living in such a free country and we are even happier to be able to go back home now.”

Ali Savandi also celebrated the attack. “They killed the leaders and we are so happy,” he said. “We’re happy for the people in Iran because they’ve suffered so long. For over 47 years, they have suffered under the dictatorship of the Islamic regime.

“This is over now, we are free and Reza Pahlavi will come to Iran and help the Iranian people and bring freedom and democracy into Iran,” Savandi said.

A much smaller, quieter group gathered at Little Tokyo Station, at First and Central streets, to protest the attack. Signs read “Stop US-Israeli War in Iran” and “The Fascist Trump Regime Must Go.”