WHEREAS, On September 16, 2022, Mahsa Amini, who was 22 years of age, passed away in the custody of the Morality Police of Iran after being detained for purportedly wearing a hijab “improperly”; and

WHEREAS, Mahsa Amini’s death sparked the first Iranian female-led revolution of our time, involving thousands of Iranian civilians, including teenagers, students, men, and women of all ages, taking to the streets and university campuses to protest the brutality and repression of the Iranian regime against its citizens and calling for human rights for its population of 84,000,000 people; and

WHEREAS, Across the world, thousands of marchers continue to demonstrate in support of the people of Iran and to send a message that the people of Iran’s bravery in risking their lives to dismantle the status quo enforced by a fanatical, theocratic regime is not in vain; and

WHEREAS, According to the National Organization for Civil Registration of Iran, the United States has the highest number of Iranians outside of Iran, close to 1,000,000 people, with over one-half residing in California. Most Iranian Americans reside in the greater Los Angeles area, which has been affectionately referred to as “Tehrangeles” or “Little Persia” among Iranian Americans; and

WHEREAS, Iranians have made important contributions as Californians in the fields of finance, technology, law, medicine, education, sports, media, the arts, the military, and government; and

WHEREAS, Mahsa Amini’s tragic death serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for gender equality, urging us to not only reflect on the challenges that remain, but also to intensify our efforts and unwavering commitment to advancing the rights and dignity of women everywhere; now, therefore, be it