U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
House Minority Leader
Greetings to the friends, supporters and advocates gathered for the 2016 Paris Rally for Democracy and Freedom in Iran. Freedom loving people everywhere have a moral obligation to protect human rights. This international gathering honors that responsibility. We must champion the building blocks of peace and prosperity, freedom of speech, religion, and the press in Iran and around the world. I’m proud to say that my state of California is home to more than a half of all Iranian-Americans. Their energetic contributions make America more American. Women, students, and minorities all have a valuable role to play in moving Iran forward. Their persecution must end. This gathering is important to advancing the cause of human rights and freedom. The United States is committed to achieving progress in the international community in this respect and the Iran Nuclear Agreement signals a new era of security and stability in the region and around the world. Until the contributions of all Iranians are valued in Iran, we still have work to do. Thank you for your work and leadership, thank you for your service, and thank you for your commitment to democracy.
