Two film directors, Jafar Panahi and Mahnaz Mohammadi, were arrested.

I think more than 7000 people were at Beheshte Zahra. Some traveled there by metro. The main slogans were in favor of Mousavi and also “Allah o Akbar.”

Eyewitness account: Interview by Saya Ovaisy

Graduate student, male, 29

I took a taxi up to Vanak Square. I could not believe my eyes: every few hundred meters I saw knots of 500 or so protesters flanking both sidewalks on Valiasr Avenue, screaming at the top of their lungs as cars honked in the background. I kept wondering, “Where are the cops?” There were no forces in sight; people had the streets freely to themselves.

Big throngs stood by on intersections clapping ...

Two film directors, Jafar Panahi and Mahnaz Mohammadi, were arrested.

I think more than 7000 people were at Beheshte Zahra. Some traveled there by metro. The main slogans were in favor of Mousavi and also “Allah o Akbar.”

Eyewitness account: Interview by Saya Ovaisy

Graduate student, male, 29

I took a taxi up to Vanak Square. I could not believe my eyes: every few hundred meters I saw knots of 500 or so protesters flanking both sidewalks on Valiasr Avenue, screaming at the top of their lungs as cars honked in the background. I kept wondering, “Where are the cops?” There were no forces in sight; people had the streets freely to themselves.

Big throngs stood by on intersections clapping rhythmically and chanting. Wild, shrill whistles also pierced the air. The atmosphere was electric and ecstatic.

Two interesting new slogans I heard today were:

– Independence, Freedom, Iranian Republic! (A spin-off of the 1979 “Independence, Freedom, Islamic Republic!”)
(Esteqlal, Azadi, Jomhuri Irani!)

– “Khamenei is a murderer, his leadership is null and void!”
(Khamenei ghatel-e, velayatesh batel-e!)

Around 8 pm, as I was leaving, I saw droves of motorbikes speeding through Vanak firing shots in the air.

Eyewitness account: Interview by Saya Ovaisy

University student, female, 23:

A crowd of two or three thousand people had gathered at section 257, where the post-election martyrs are buried.

At first only ordinary police officers were stationed there; but by 4 pm the Guards poured in and began yelling to disperse the crowd. People refused to budge (and new arrivals were joining in); the baton attacks began. The crowd re-convened and began chanting: “Our Neda is not dead, it’s the government that’s died!”

We heard from others that Mousavi had indeed arrived but had been turned away by police.

From Tehran Bureau correspondent Saya Ovaisy:

Vanak Square and Valiasr Square were also the sites of massive numbers of protesters.

Update | around 9 pm Tehran time

Although their effort to disperse protesters was ineffective compared to previous episodes, the Guards and Basij forces were unusually savage today — I saw many women beaten without reservation and glass shattering on cars with small children inside.

Yet people were more bold than I’d ever seen them. As I write this at 9:00 pm from a location in Abbas Abad district, the shouts of “Death to Khamenei!” and chaotic honks are drifting in loud and clear from the window. It is dark, night has fallen – and protests are still continu...

From Tehran Bureau correspondent Saya Ovaisy:

Vanak Square and Valiasr Square were also the sites of massive numbers of protesters.

Update | around 9 pm Tehran time

Although their effort to disperse protesters was ineffective compared to previous episodes, the Guards and Basij forces were unusually savage today — I saw many women beaten without reservation and glass shattering on cars with small children inside.

Yet people were more bold than I’d ever seen them. As I write this at 9:00 pm from a location in Abbas Abad district, the shouts of “Death to Khamenei!” and chaotic honks are drifting in loud and clear from the window. It is dark, night has fallen – and protests are still continuing strong. Never have they lasted this late except on the first few days following the election.

It’s NUTS! I’ve never seen it like this before! It’s still going on, 9 pm now — raging! As I said, its more like a riot, totally out of control.

Earlier: This appeared to be the most successful protests since the crackdown began. It was more akin to a riot… The forces were decidedly not in control of the situation. The protests were too widespread and numerous, up and down Valiasr; and east and west, around the Mosala area entire main roads chock full — even stretching into side streets such as Yousef Abad (central
Tehran).

Guards would storm the crowd but even then the chants would continue amidst the beatings. People held their ground much more boldly than before; they would not be subdued. The guards did not remain in any one spot long, since chaotic protests swarmed in all directions. No sooner would they turn back when the crescendo of “Death to the Dictator!” would peak again and furious honking would resume and Vs would go up triumphantly.