Clad in green clothing and ribbons, hundreds gathered at the west steps of the Capitol Friday, to bring awareness to the current unrest in Iran. Their signs called for freedom, nonviolent resistance and a plea, “Obama Please Help Us.”

Speakers detailed the series of events over the past week in Iran, highlighting violence and the concern of Iranian voters. An enthusiastic speaker read a numbered manifesto in Farsi, listing desires for the future of Iran.

Included in this list was the wish for a leader elected by the people. Many people voiced their concerns over the alleged unfair election. Others began a series of chants that called for “Freedom from Dictatorship,” that soon evolved into reciting death wishes for political leaders in Iran.

In the midst of this, a man with long black hair, draped in an American flag, ran through the crowd and to the top of the capital steps. He opened his arms in the air, and pleaded to the crowd in Farsi to leave politics outside of the dialogue.

This majestic image was of Babak Parham, a local electrician. “This issue is about basic human rights,” he commented. “We need to look to the future and focus on civil society in Iran. This is a great event to bring our voices together.”

Ali Mackani, one of the organizers of the event, and local entrepreneur and businessperson, said, “You know over the last week and a half, as part of just looking at my friends’ Facebook, and what we heard through the internet, I just felt like we have to do something.” The event was organized to pay respect to the efforts of people “risking their lives, because they feel they’re doing something for freedom,” Mackani said.

It is evident that the internet has become a central medium of disseminating information from Iran to the outside world. Mackani, and many of the organizers interviewed, referenced Facebook and Twitter as sites of gathering knowledge about what is happening in Iran.

“Without it I don’t think the youth of our community would actually know what’s happening,” he said.

Amidst the crowd of supporters were Iranian American youth of all ages holding signs and chanting with their relatives. “Facebook,” said one teen, “is not just for chatting.”

Many others commented on the power of Twitter to allow them to stay connected to friends and bloggers in Iran out of concern for their families. “If it weren’t for Twitter right now, we would not have the video and information that we have,” remarked an anonymous organizer.

Most of the interviews, in fact, were conducted under anonymity. “People have a reasonable concern over safety, not necessarily for themselves in the U.S., but for potentially their families in Iran, said an anonymous activist. She continued, “There’s obvious concern over people being hurt and the Islamic Republic going after people. We want to ensure our own safety if we choose to travel there, and our families’ there.”

Fortunately, some have been able to reach relatives through phone and Skype, an online communication program, successfully.

The gravity of events in Iran has a great impact on the Iranian American community in Sacramento. For some of Mackani’s relatives, current events in Iran echo images of the Iranian revolution in the 1980s. “What I’m hearing from family and friends is that it has the same feeling: underground movement, rooftop chanting.”

Ali Mackani hoped to reach out to influential leaders through the rally. “We want the international community to look at this in a very serious light,” he said.

He anticipates the international community to negotiate and discuss Iran’s future based on vocal activism from communities like Sacramento. “It’s not just an Iranian movement; it’s an American Iranian movement, it’s an American movement. Everyone that cares about humanity is getting involved in this,” said an anonymous rally participant.

These globally conscious citizens were able to raise awareness, horns honking in concert with the chanting by the streets. The organizers wanted to “spread the news that this is happening," said a woman anonymously, “so the people see what we’re doing here and that we care.”

She has also received feedback from Iran in messages that state, “Thank you for keeping us in your hearts and minds and we hear you.”

Sacramento Iranian Americans are having an impact overseas. They are in contact with activists, translating their messages to their local communities, and furiously re-tweeting pictures and eye-witness accounts. Micro-blogging macro issues, Sacramento area Iranian Americans are actively seeking peace for their homeland.