Today, we stand together—divided by faiths, beliefs, and politics, yet united as Iranian immigrants thousands of miles from our homeland—bound by one shared hope: to see our people safe, our cities spared, and a genuine path to peace opened for all. As old scars between Iran and Israel are dissected by those in power, only innocent civilians on both sides pay the price with their blood—living in constant fear of violence, displacement, and irreversible loss. We are not the ones in power, but when we speak as one, our voices become impossible to silence.

When I look at the outline of Iran on a map, I don’t just see borders—I see a lone cat, crouched and watchful. For years that cat has endured the poison of its own rulers, fighting for every breath and every inch of space. Now it cowers under blows from without, labeled as if this violence were the cure, even as its body—its land—is torn to pieces. This isn’t a distant abstraction: it is the home we carry in our hearts, wounded and pleading for mercy.

Every bomb that falls on civilians is a confession that diplomacy has failed. So today, we stand in solidarity with families across borders united by a single truth: no political goal is worth the life of a child, the safety of a mother, or the future of a community. An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.

We are not strangers—we are your friends, your family, your coworkers. And to you—every parent, every friend, every neighbor—hear our plea: Picture your childhood dreams stifled by the thunder of artillery. Hold our stories in your hands, amplify our cries, and stand with us.

We hereby demand an immediate cease-fire.

Now, we ask you to act.

• Press the University of Waterloo to Speak Out
   Email President Vivek Goel and the UW Board of Governors (goel@uwaterloo.ca; bog@uwaterloo.ca), urging them to:
• Issue an official statement condemning the killing of civilians in Iran and Israel
• Call for an immediate cease-fire and highlight the human cost of this conflictPledge the university’s support for humanitarian aid and interfaith peace initiatives
• Sign & Share the Petition
   Add your name to our call for civilian protection and a cease-fire—then share it widely.

Be the change you want to see in the world :)