Vigil for Neda in Piedmont Park
In the summer of 2009 I had the chance to photograph man protests on Iran and the alleged fixed election. This even was not intended to be a protest but rather a candle light vigil for Neda, the young woman that was murdered on the streets of Iran by the Basiji, the state sanctioned paramilitary organization.
The vigil didn’t last too long, because people started protesting instead of adhearing to the organizers requests of a calm and non-political protest. The event became more controversial as the night went along with people getting in each others faces with loud rhertoric.
There were times when people were singing as there were times when people were loudly arguing with each other. At one point the organizers were singing “Give Peace A Chance” while the protestors shouted with loud microphones.
The night ended with me taking MARTA back to my stop and while I was on the train there were a lot of soccer fans piling up to get a seat for a soccer game. It was pretty interesting to be packed so close to people and I know they didn’t appreciate me and all my gear. :D
A young lady attending the vigil wears a green bandana to signify support for the opposition.
A young girl holds a candle in the vigil.
A man holds a candle for the vigil for Neda.
A woman going to the vigil holds a candle for Neda.
A man holds a picture of Neda. Neda became a symbol for the opposition when she was murdered on the streets of Tehran by the Basiji.
A protestor holds a printed out peace of paper with Neda's picture.
Children pose for a picture. One of the children raises his candle for the camera.
The crowd give the hand gesture symbolizing peace.
Two children sit behind a park bench giving a peace sign with their hands.
The woman on the right asks the crowd to say "Allah Akbar" and is quickly rebuked by the diverse crowd.
The young lady yells out "peace" in a sign of frustration of the protestors that were politicizing the event.
A woman lights a candle as the young lady in the back raises a peace sign with her hand.
A young man wears the old 1979 Flag of State flag in the Vigil for Neda. This flag is no longer the Iranian flag, the new one adorns Allah Akbar in between the lines.
Two people holding opposite positions on the protest/vigil exchange words
The argument heats up quickly when the man becomes confrontational and refuses to leave the Vigil
A protestor argues with the vigil goers in piedmont park.
A young girl holds candles in front of the candles arranged to spell Neda's name.
A soccer fan wears the Mexican flag on his way to the soccer match.
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- A soccer fan wears the Mexican flag on his way to the soccer match.
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- A young girl holds candles in front of the candles arranged to spell Neda’s name.
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- A protestor argues with the vigil goers in piedmont park.
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- The argument heats up quickly when the man becomes confrontational and refuses to leave the Vigil
-
- Two people holding opposite positions on the protest/vigil exchange words
-
- A young man wears the old 1979 Flag of State flag in the Vigil for Neda. This flag is no longer the Iranian flag, the new one adorns Allah Akbar in between the lines.
-
- A woman lights a candle as the young lady in the back raises a peace sign with her hand.
-
- The young lady yells out “peace” in a sign of frustration of the protestors that were politicizing the event.
-
- The woman on the right asks the crowd to say “Allah Akbar” and is quickly rebuked by the diverse crowd.
-
- Two children sit behind a park bench giving a peace sign with their hands.
-
- The crowd give the hand gesture symbolizing peace.
-
- Children pose for a picture. One of the children raises his candle for the camera.
-
- A protestor holds a printed out peace of paper with Neda’s picture.
-
- A young lady attending the vigil wears a green bandana to signify support for the opposition.
-
- A man holds a picture of Neda. Neda became a symbol for the opposition when she was murdered on the streets of Tehran by the Basiji.
-
- A woman going to the vigil holds a candle for Neda.
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- A man holds a candle for the vigil for Neda.
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- A young girl holds a candle in the vigil.
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Nice images. I wish I had known about this. I would have been there. How long are you in ATL?
Gary, I took the images in 2009, but now I am back in Canada. Hopefully I will be back by next year. Thank you for the compliment.
I love the one with the candles spelling Neda’s name. Good job, as usual. :)