Jun 16, 2009 12:53 pm US/Central
Iranian-Americans Receive Permit For Chicago Rally
Protest Set For 4:30 p.m. In Federal Plaza
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Iranian-American demonstrators said they had difficulty getting a permit for a planned protest Tuesday, but they ultimately received one, and a protest will go ahead.
The demonstration over the Iranian elections is set for 4:30 p.m. in Federal Plaza, said organizer Farnaz Abdollahi.
On Monday, organizers told CBS 2 they were refused permits when they went to City Hall. They said they were not given a specific reason for why the permits were rejected. On Monday, Mayor Daley's press secretary Jackie Heard said the group hadn't approached the city about a permit.
But Abdollahi said while there was difficulty in getting the permits, the group ultimately received them.
Many Iranian-Americans are upset over the result of elections in Iran. Incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the election in a landslide over challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi, but protesters claim the election results stemmed from voter fraud.
Demonstrations were also being held in other cities around the world on Tuesday.
Protests and civil unrest have marked the week so far in Tehran. Pictures of violence and blood have surfaced, and an Associated Press photographer saw at least one demonstrator killed Monday. Several others with what appeared to be serious injuries.
President Barack Obama has said he doesn't know who won the election,
but he defended the protesters' right to demonstrate.
"And what I would say to those people who put so much hope and energy and optimism into the political process, I would say to them that the world is watching and inspired by their participation, regardless of what the ultimate outcome of the election was," Obama said. "And they should know that the world is watching."
Obama also said an investigation into alleged vote-rigging should go ahead without additional violence.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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