[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 15925]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      ADVOCATING FREEDOM FOR IRAN

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, it is evident by my 
colleague's remarks that Iran and the dilemma and complexity of its 
situation has grabbed hold of the hearts and minds of Americans and 
freedom-loving people around the world.
  What struck me was the expression and the tragic incident that caused 
Neda, who is now known around the world as a symbol of the Iranian 
movement, to claim democracy in a free election. A 16-year-old who was 
shot through the heart, who lay bleeding in the street as her father 
feverishly tried to save her life.
  No, Americans are not trying to tell the Iranian people whom they 
should vote for or whether the election was, in fact, a true election, 
a fair election. But we as freedom-loving people, who love democracy, 
who believe in our own country that we should have fair elections, we 
are standing with them as they petition their government to stand for 
the right side of the issue, which is to ask for a new election or a 
recount.
  We also ask that lives are preserved and violence ends. We ask that 
the opposition be allowed to be heard. And we certainly ask for the 
ending of the interception of cell phones and the Internet where 
freedom-loving people would like to be able to speak to each other.
  No, we are not advocating violence. We're not advocating intrusion. 
We are only advocating freedom for Iran.

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