My feet hurt. I can barely keep my eyes open. I am uploading photos, watching press accounts, and still in awe of amazing Team Amsterdam. Wow. What an amazing bunch of volunteers we worked with over these past few months. They cancelled their vacations, took extra time off, and organized a brilliant rally in Amsterdam.

Shirin Ebadi poses with volunteers

Honestly, I just fell in love with all of them. I’m head over heels.

We wanted more people at our rally. Of course we did. We wanted to show Iranians that in a free country, 10,000 people could show up to peacefully demonstrate. In the end, we had about 2,000. Of course it is, as my husband and the coordinator of the Amsterdam event says, “cucumber time” in the Netherlands. Everyone, and I mean half of everyone, is on vacation.

Shirin Ebadi (photo by TJ Schuitmaker)

Still, we managed to get a great crowd and to have a peaceful demonstration. And while I would love to talk about every one of our amazing speakers and performers, I am going to use this space to talk about Shirin Ebadi. She really energized the crowd. She led us in chants, responded to hecklers, and called us to action. She asked us to show our support for the mothers of those who have been killed in Iran by going to a local park once a week dressed in black. I can do that, can you? She asked us to send a strong message to Nokia/Siemens who sold software to the Iranian regime that allows every cell phone call made in Iran (and the US) to be tracked. (It made me happy to carry around my old, un-smart Sony Erickson phone.)

Our crowd (Photo by TJ Schuitmaker)

Unfortunately, we did have an Iranian embassy employee wrapped in a Shir-o-Khorshid flag taking photos of all those in attendance. I am sure that other demonstrations will have similar stories.

Overall, our event was great. Our team was even better, and I’m so tired that I can smell my pillow.

- Tori Egherman

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July 25, be a hero by Tori