On June 12 the government of Iran denied its people their basic right to a fair election and declared that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won a second term as President.

Since then, Iranians have taken to the streets every day to protest their oppression. At night they defiantly shout from the rooftops. Although shouting from the rooftops here in America won't carry the same weight as the thousands of young students crying out for freedom in Iran, the Placer County Young Democrats would like to express our full support to the people of Iran in their struggle for freedom.

It is our steadfast belief as Americans that all people, of all nations, deserve certain basic freedoms.

Unfortunately, the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, has made it clear that he intends to end the demonstrations with force. Though Khamenei has tried to prevent the outside world from witnessing the brutality, many pictures and videos have leaked out.

But despite all this, the Iranian people have stood strong. It seems that the demonstra-tors have only found greater resolve. They understand that any government that must control its people with violence has lost all legitimacy, and must be brought down.

Though we cannot help them, we offer our best wishes and urge the Iranian people to remain strong in the face of violence and terror. After all, these brave Iranians are fight-ing for those fundamental human rights that we in America hold so dear: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Our relationship with Iran has been rocky, to say the least. But the disputes of the past do not dictate the path of our future. The American people will always be friends to those who seek liberty and democracy.

To the Iranian people: We are with you.

In solidarity,

Nick Shepard, vice president, Placer County Young Democrats

Neil Pople, president, Placer County Young Democrats