Students Protest Shah's Arrival

Published by Dallas Morning News- November, 16, 1977

Approximately 10 Iranian students from the University of Texas at Arlington drove the rented truck up and down Commerce, Main and Elm streets to “explain the conditions of the life in Iran,” a spokesman for the protesters said.

He asked that he not be identified and the protesters wore masks because they feared retaliation from the Iranian secret police if identified.“Someday I would like to go back to my home and make it better.” The spokesman said.

Banners on the truck proclaimed “Condemn the Shah’s Murder of Iranian People” and “Condemn Shah’s U.S. Visit”

The shah maintains a police state, the Iranian students said, in which torture and murder of political dissidents is commonplace.

Because of the large number of dissidents, the spokesman said, “the shah can’t live one day without a police state.”

Many Dallas-area Iranian students went to Washington to join a national protest of the shah’s 2-day visit to the United States, the spokesman said.

Thousands of protesters clashed with police near the White House as the shah arrived Tuesday. Police used tear gas to disperse them.

The Carter administration’s emphasis on human rights in foreign policy has not disrupted the relationship with Iran.

Iran’s strategic location and its supply of oil to the United States are key factors in the diplomatic ties between the two countries, observers say.

“Material wealth always takes precedence over human rights,” the Iranian student spokesman claimed.

The Iranian students said they hope the American people will put pressure on the government not to continue selling arms to Iran, the spokesman said.

Police reported no incidents in the downtown protest.