DNC chair Ken Martin on Sunday compared the United States to Iran and accused the Trump administration of "authoritarian behavior," as the Islamic Republic marked one of the bloodiest crackdowns on protesters in the nation's history, slaughtering hundreds.
"From Tehran to my birthplace of Minneapolis, people are rising up against systems that wield violence without accountability," Martin, the former chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, wrote on X. Protests erupted in Minneapolis after increased ICE presence in the city in recent weeks.
"In Iran, brave protestors confront a far-right theocratic regime that crushes dissent and denies basic freedoms. Here at home, tens of thousands are marching after the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good—demanding justice, transparency, and an end to an unchecked federal force that takes lives and tears families apart," Martin said.
Martin’s comments came as Iran escalated its brutal crackdown on protests against the regime over the weekend, slaughtering hundreds of civilian demonstrators and blocking internet access. Reports suggest that the Islamic Republic slaughtered more than 500 protesters over the weekend, with hospitals overwhelmed by the number of people killed and injured. Experts have accused the regime of piling bodies into pickup trucks and dumping them in front of the deceased’s loved ones’ homes to intimidate protesters.
"They are brutally killing people, the numbers are extremely high. But the thing that’s coming as a surprise to many is that Iranians are not relenting," Khosro Isfahani, a senior research analyst with the National Union for Democracy in Iran, said. "They are not giving up, they are staying on the streets. The numbers are growing on the streets and people are fighting back."
Martin sparked controversy in October when he said he opposed political violence but then accused the Trump administration of being a "fascist regime."
"I’ve been very vocal, after Charlie Kirk died, that there’s no place for political violence," Martin said, "But calling out a fascist regime for what it is? There’s no doubt in my mind, when you look at other fascist regimes around the world over our history, that this not only has the hallmarks of a fascist regime, it is a fascist regime."
Responding to a post calling his comparison of Iran to the United States "the dumbest sh— posted on the internet today," Martin doubled down. "If comparing the U.S. to Iran makes you angry, ask why," Martin said. "Killing protesters. Crushing dissent. Kidnapping and disappearing legal citizens. Ignoring courts. Threatening critics. Terrorizing communities. That’s authoritarian behavior—anywhere."
"If you’re rushing to defend it, maybe the problem isn’t the comparison. Trump keeps pushing it, Americans aren’t buying it, and Minneapolis won’t be silent." Martin concluded.
