Congressman Patrick Kennedy argued that the Iranian regime’s escalating repression demonstrates its fear of its own people and that Western governments should abandon policies of hesitation in favor of supporting Iran’s democratic opposition. Kennedy argued that these executions are intended to intimidate organized opposition but instead reveal the authorities’ growing concern over expanding domestic resistance. Kennedy argued that repeated nationwide uprisings since 2017 demonstrate that demands for democratic change have persisted despite increasingly severe repression. Kennedy suggested that stronger international political support for the Iranian people would encourage further growth of democratic activism inside the country and increase pressure on the ruling establishment. Lessons from HistoryDrawing historical comparisons, Kennedy recalled international support for South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement and the democratic revolutions that brought an end to communist rule across Eastern Europe.