This letter was written and sent to the IEC by a former political prisoner from Iran, Sussan Golmohammadi. In 2023, she delivered a moving internationalist statement from Burn the Cage/Free the Birds (Iran’s political prisoners support movement in Europe) at the May Day celebration in Los Angeles. In years past, she had also been a speaker at several International Women’s Day celebrations in L.A.

I write this letter as a former political prisoner from the 1980s in the Islamic Republic of Iran. I am someone who desires a fundamental change and a better future than this capitalist-imperialist exploitative system that today has a fascist regime in the U.S. at its helm. My husband, Iraj Shirali, was executed (among 21 other revolutionaries) by Iran’s fascist theocratic rulers in 1982. He was only 27 years old, but was already a leader in the Union of Iranian Communists.

I strongly support the Call by refusefascism.org to flood Washington, DC beginning Nov. 5 in the largest non-violent mobilization in U.S. history, to demand, “THE FASCIST TRUMP REGIME MUST GO NOW!”

I can testify that there is no living with a fascist regime — not in Iran, and not in the U.S. It must be defeated and driven from power. What fascism demands of you is unacceptable and unimaginable. At every level of society, in every institution, tens of millions of us know this with our entire beings.

To all the decent people in the U.S.:
I urge you to be determined and steadfast in defeating and ousting the Trump/MAGA fascists! The fascist Trump regime is illegitimate. Do not let this fascist regime send the people of the world to the hell that it has unleashed and is preparing! Turn your powerful anger into a massive force. Be present and besiege DC with your nonviolent protest beginning November 5, with the aim of driving out the fascist Trump regime.

Millions of people hate fascism and injustice. Urgently contact everyone, including those in the Iranian Diaspora, to go to DC and donate to November 5. Ask your family, friends, networks and organizations and institutions to give their support. Do not relent in your struggles until Trump is removed from office! Act as if the future of humanity is in your hands.

To all the people of the world who hate injustice:
A fascist U.S. is an existential danger to humanity. Join me and all those who stand in solidarity with the millions in the U.S. who are refusing to accept a fascist America! Amplify and spread their call to “Flood DC in Nonviolent Resistance Beginning Nov. 5” to demand “Trump Must Go Now!” Send internationalist statements of support to refusefascism.org.

“If we dare, we can defeat a horror that threatens humanity's very survival. If we fail to even try, future generations—if they exist—will never forgive us.”

Dare to struggle! Dare to win!

Sussan Golmohammadi
Former political prisoner in Iran, 1982-1985