Rochester Joins Global Protests Against Iranian Regime

Dozens rally in Med City to support protesters in Iran and call for regime change

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Dozens of Rochester residents gathered at the corner of North Broadway Avenue and West Center Street on Saturday to protest the actions of the Iranian regime and show support for protesters in Iran. The Rochester protest was one of several happening around the world, spurred on by Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of former Iranian leader Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. The protesters called for an end to the killing of protesters in Iran and demanded regime change in the Middle Eastern country.

Why it matters

The protests in Iran have drawn global attention to the government's violent crackdown on dissent, with thousands of protesters said to have been killed. The Rochester protest was part of a coordinated effort to raise awareness and pressure the Iranian regime to end its repression of the Iranian people.

The details

The Rochester protest featured signs displaying the injuries of protesters in Iran who have been violently suppressed by the government. Protesters chanted calls for regime change and declarations in favor of Reza Pahlavi, though organizer Farhad Kosari said Pahlavi is not seeking to rule the country himself. The goal of the movement, Kosari said, is to bring down the current regime and hold a referendum so the Iranian people can decide their own form of government.

  • The protests in Iran erupted in December 2025 and continued into January 2026.
  • The Rochester protest took place on Saturday, February 15, 2026.

The players

Reza Pahlavi

The exiled son of former Iranian leader Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, who has spurred the global protests against the Iranian regime.

Farhad Kosari

The organizer of the Rochester protest against the Iranian regime.

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What they’re saying

“The scale of brutality, it was unheard of.”

— Farhad Kosari, Rochester protest organizer (kttc.com)

“The goal is to first stop recognition of Iranian government. The Iranian government is behind all kinds of evil in the world.”

— Farhad Kosari, Rochester protest organizer (kttc.com)

“The goal of all this movement is to bring down the regime and hold the referendum so that all parties participate and decide what they want inside Iran. People in Iran decide what government they want for themselves. It doesn't have to be a monarchy. It could be a republic. It could be a monarchy, or it could be other things.”

— Farhad Kosari, Rochester protest organizer (kttc.com)

What’s next

The protesters in Rochester and around the world are calling for continued pressure on the Iranian regime to end its violent crackdown on dissent and allow the Iranian people to decide their own future through a democratic referendum.

The takeaway

The Rochester protest was part of a global movement to support the Iranian people's fight for freedom and democracy, highlighting the widespread condemnation of the Iranian regime's brutal suppression of protests and the desire for meaningful change in the country.