Dear Friends,

My deepest apologies to anyone who showed up for the rally in support of the Iranian people on Sunday. The invitation I received listed the wrong date, and I didn’t realize the mistake until after I had crossed the Golden Gate Bridge looking for the group.

The good news … more than 10,000 people showed up on Saturday!

Even so, I stayed and proudly held up my sign. I received many smiles and thumbs up—and not a single negative comment. While it wasn’t the day I expected, I’m truly glad I went. It was a powerful reminder of how much love and respect there is for the Iranian people.

In March of 2007, when two U.S. aircraft carriers were headed toward Iran and war seemed imminent, I joined a Global Exchange Reality Tour and traveled to Iran. The phrase I heard most often was, “We love Americans!”

When I returned home, I spent six months in Washington, DC, sharing my experiences, especially how kind and welcoming the Iranian people were, and how different they are from their brutal government.

In 2010, I returned to Iran as a delegate with the Fellowship of Reconciliation, one of the oldest and largest interfaith peace and justice organizations in the United States.

I will always carry a deep love for the Iranian people. My greatest hope is that they are not forced to defend themselves in yet another unnecessary war perpetrated by the United States government.

Peace & Love,
❤️ Jes