Iran is facing some of its biggest protests in years as the country’s economy continues to fall apart.
Prices for food and basic goods have gone up fast, the value of the Iranian rial has dropped and many families can no longer afford what they need to survive.
Inflation has climbed so high that even middle-class families are struggling.
In response to the growing anger, the Iranian government has shut down the internet in many areas, arrested thousands of people and used deadly force against protesters.
The internet shutdown is being used to hide unlawful killings and stop people from sharing videos or asking for help.
Students and staff without family in Iran may feel the situation raises important questions about rights and government power.
“I don’t have relatives in Iran, but it’s disturbing to see a government shut down the internet to silence people,” Camila Guerra, a sociology major at Cerritos, said. “It shows how fast rights can disappear. We forget our freedoms aren’t guaranteed.”
Alfonso Ramirez, a business major, said the violence in Iran made him think about similar problems in the United States.
“Hearing about protestors being attacked makes me think of what happened to Renee Good in Minneapolis,” Ramirez said.
“It showed me that force from authorities isn’t just something that happens in other countries. We’ve seen it here too, and it makes you pay attention differently,” he added.
The protest helps students see that governments are not always trustworthy. Robert Goldstein, a staff member, said students are making strong connections between what they see in Iran and what they learn about government systems.
Though students may not have personal ties to Iran, they recognize the patterns of economic collapse, public frustrations and state repression, he added.
He said that studying these events helps students understand how fragile political systems can be and how quickly rights can erode when institutions fall.
Students are shocked by the idea of an internet shutdown. “Young people live online. The idea that a government can disconnect millions is shocking to them,” Goldstein said.
On campus, the protests have become a topic students bring up in conversations with friends and classmates.
Some say they feel overwhelmed by constant global crises but still want to stay informed. Others say the situation makes them feel fortunate to live in a place where they can speak out without fear of being arrested or harmed.
Students say the protests make them think about fairness, safety and how much power a government should have. Many feel overwhelmed by constant global crises but they still believe what is happening in Iran is serious and deserves attention.
For Cerritos students, the crisis makes it clear that no place is guaranteed freedom.
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