Message from Tehran on "Iran Day" Friday Sept. 18th 2009

The main starting / meeting point for the demonstration participants was in Haft e tir square where both Green and Governments supporters began to gather.

The two groups used separate streets to arrive at the university, but what was very apparent was that the greens greatly outnumbered the government turnout.
The “Green” crowd was large and people were amazed not only at the turn out in terms of numbers but also in terms of young and old, men and women, adults and children and women in the various spectrum of Islamic dress, from the mini-scarf to industrial chador. All were green today.

The crowd was also cheered on by construction workers waving green banners from upper floors as well as the subliminal signs of approval from many of the police as well as people in their cars honking their horns and waving green flags and giving the "victory sign".

This turnout seemed to give a new force to many who just days before were just considering attending or of the opinion that the movement was finished. Everyone was shocked by not only the turnout in terms of numbers but how GREEN it was At one point in the middle of the street the Karoubbi arrived amidst cheers and jubilation. Participants distributed masks for identity protection as well as in gas of pepper or tear gas as well as tying green ribbons on everyone’s fingers, necks and foreheads. At one point passing a grandstand replete with clerics, from somewhere the old Iranian anthem began, Ey Iran – to which all began singing – followed by fervent chants of “Marg bar Dictator”.

Crossing a large traffic circle, the crowd had to pass through a large contingency of police and basij that were filming the crowd. At one point a demonstrator was seized and the crowd pulled him back. Finally at one point a truck filled with the “Slogan Leaders – those with the loudspeaker that call out to the crowd to cheer in unison” began to speed through the crowd in order to disperse marchers and ruin the mood, following this tear gas began to fill the air and people began to flee to escape the tear gas and also any possible police or basij reprisal that might follow.