Iranian-Canadians Fill Yonge Street in Richmond Hill in Show of Support for Protests in Iran
Richmond Hill — Yonge Street was transformed into a sea of green, white, and red this weekend as Iranian-Canadians gathered in large numbers to show solidarity with the latest wave of protests in Iran. Marchers walked along Yonge Street, many carrying large Iranian flags bearing the historic Lion and Sun emblem, moving northward past 16th Avenue toward the Star Nation venue, where a larger rally took place.
Videos and photos shared widely on social media in both Persian and English showed long lines of demonstrators stretching along the busy corridor, chanting and waving flags despite the winter cold. Cars joined the demonstration as well, with several vehicles covered in oversized Iranian flags, their drivers honking in support as they moved alongside the crowd.
The Lion and Sun flag — Iran’s national symbol prior to the 1979 revolution — was prominently displayed throughout the march. In recent years, it has become a widely recognized symbol of opposition to the Islamic Republic and a rallying point for many Iranians inside the country and across the global diaspora.
Participants described the march as a grassroots expression of solidarity with protesters in Iran who are calling for fundamental political change, civil liberties, and an end to authoritarian rule. Organizers emphasized that the Richmond Hill gathering was part of a broader wave of demonstrations by Iranians abroad, aimed at keeping international attention focused on events unfolding inside Iran.
As the march progressed north of 16th Avenue toward Star Nation, the crowd grew denser, with families, seniors, and young people joining together. Passers-by stopped to watch, film, and, in some cases, join the procession, while traffic slowed along Yonge Street due to the size of the gathering.
Eyewitness accounts and social media footage suggest that hundreds took part in the Richmond Hill demonstration, making it one of the more visible recent expressions of political activism by the Iranian-Canadian community in the area. Similar rallies have been held in the past across Richmond Hill and the Greater Toronto Area, reflecting the region’s large and politically engaged Iranian population.
The demonstration concluded with speeches and chants at the Star Nation venue, where participants reiterated calls for freedom, democracy, and international support for protesters in Iran.