SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA January 11, 2026 – California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statement on Sunday expressing solidarity with protesters in Iran, condemning the regime’s violent repression and calling for the restoration of internet access and respect for human rights.
In a post on X, Newsom wrote:
“California stands in solidarity with the people of Iran, who are confronting violent repression, mass internet and power shutdowns, and economic collapse imposed by a theocratic authoritarian regime.
The scale and persistence of protests across Iran demand fundamental change after decades of state violence and denial of basic rights.
In support of California’s Iranian community and in defense of universal human rights, we urge an immediate end to violence against civilians, the restoration of internet access, and respect for the Iranian people’s right to chart their own future.”
The governor’s statement comes amid escalating nationwide protests in Iran that began in late December 2025, initially sparked by a deepening economic crisis but quickly evolving into widespread demands for regime change.
Authorities have responded with a severe crackdown, including a near-total internet blackout imposed on January 8, 2026, which has reduced connectivity to about 1% of normal levels. Human rights monitors report that at least 538 people have been killed in the suppression, with thousands more detained.
California is home to one of the largest Iranian-American communities in the United States, many of whom have fled the Islamic Republic’s rule. Newsom’s message drew mixed reactions online, with some Iranian diaspora members praising the support while others criticized the governor for focusing abroad amid domestic challenges in California.
The protests mark the most significant challenge to Iran’s leadership in years, with demonstrators in cities across the country chanting against the supreme leader and facing ongoing security force violence.
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