Members of the local Iranian community gathered outside St. John’s city hall Saturday afternoon to support what they call a democratic transition of power from the current Islamic Republic to a secular government under Prince Reza Pahlavi.

Dozens of people, carrying the Iranian flag and holding signs reading ‘A Democratic Iran Needs Reza Pahlavi’, and ‘We Trust in Pahlavi’ voiced their displeasure over violent crackdowns on protests against the government which is led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

What started two weeks’ ago as demonstrations against the country’s economic problems, has grown into much broader anti-government protests throughout Iran.

The government has threatened protestors, blaming the United States for fanning the flames and turning peaceful demonstrations into what it called subversion and vandalism. Dozens of demonstrators have reportedly been killed as the government tries to quell the protests.

Dozens of people turned out to join in protests around the world in solidarity with the people of Iran. (VOCM News)

Similar protests in solidarity with the Iranian people have taken place around the world.

The U.S. repeated this week that the killing of protestors would be met with an American military response.