My heart aches for #MahsaAmini, her loved ones, the people of my parent’s home country of Iran, and every person across the world who still has to fight for basic freedoms. 22-year-old Mahsa was murdered by the Islamic Republic “morality police” after she was accused of not wearing her hijab properly. The list of atrocities committed by this regime is endless, and horrific. Now, millions of Iranians across the country and the world are fiercely protesting against a brutal regime that treats women (and many other minority groups) violently and as second-class citizens. Women, especially, are risking arrest and death by removing and burning their hijabs in public. As a first-generation American, it’s deeply painful to watch the people of Iran suffer under the repressive government they’ve been held hostage by for decades. Coupled with crippling US economic sanctions, ordinary people are suffering immensely. I’m forever grateful for generations of immigrants before me who took risks and allowed my family to live a life with more freedom than we could have ever thought possible. This week has been a stark reminder of the injustice and horror that still takes place daily under the Iranian government’s oppressive rule. I want to echo the #ForcedHijabIsNotIransCulture campaign by sharing photos of my grandmas pre-1979 revolution — when women were free to choose. Iranian women have always been fearless, progressive, and bold, and we’re seeing that more than ever today. The ongoing demonstrations are the largest we’ve seen in years, and the Iranian government is doing everything it can to crackdown and restrict internet access. Just as the world stands in solidarity with Ukraine, I hope we can all continue to amplify the voices of Iranian people in their brave pursuit of freedom and justice.