When you scroll past a headline about a protest in a different city, or even a different country, it may seem like just another news update. However, behind the chants, marches and walkouts are young people who have decided that silence is no longer an option, and that their future is worth fighting for.
The modern era of global activism has been marked by a generation that refuses to inherit the silence and oppression of the past. On Dec. 28, 2025, shopkeepers and merchants at the Tehran Grand Bazaar– one of Iran’s most prominent market places– went on strike to protest the collapse of Iran’s currency, the rial.
Originally starting in the capital, Tehran, the protest stemmed from extreme economic desperation and outrage due to high inflation. These protests quickly escalated into anti-government demonstrations in all 31 provinces of Iran.
According to the Iran Primer, unlike other political movements in the past, this one is driven by a population in which 60% are under 30 years old. Young Iranians view the immense restrictions of their current political climate as a direct threat to their liberties.
Despite brutal forces from various groups within the Iranian state security apparatus that have left an estimate of 6,000- 30,000 dead, imprisoned and 330,000 injured, the spirit of defiance remains deeply rooted in Iranian society.
However, outward expression has been forced to dwindle. According to Iran International, military units have been deployed across urban areas and communication is under tight government control. Efforts to fully document these atrocities have been hindered because of an internet blackout of nearly four weeks.
The desire for accountability is not only unique to the younger generations of Iran but it has become a global sentiment.
On Jan. 7, Renee Good was fatally shot and killed by an ICE agent during an immigration raid in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Following her death, major protests erupted statewide and nationally.
The youth’s response was almost immediate; hundreds of high school students walked out of classrooms in Minneapolis and St. Paul areas in protest of ICE’s brutality. These demonstrations were not only concentrated in Minnesota.
A national shutdown on Jan. 30 was organized throughout the country in retaliation for ICE’s brutality. Similar to the occurrences in Minnesota, students departed from classrooms, marched, chanted and waved signs in protest of ICE. By participating in the national shutdown, younger generations have proven that they are tired of negotiating with policymakers for their safety–they are now demanding it.
This generation has seen that institutions that are supposed to protect them are the very same ones that have been using lethal force against them. They have realized that even though they lack political power, that is not an excuse to accept oppressive systems. Rather, their power lies within their refusal to be controlled by fear.
You do not need a title, a platform or political influence in order to think deeply about an issue. If you notice injustice, vocalize your concerns. Every movement begins with someone realizing that their voice is worth using.
