‘We just need to be their voice’: Windsor protest planned as Iran blackout cuts off outside contact

A protest in support of people affected by the internet blackout in Iran is planned for Jan. 10, 2026 at 3 p.m. beneath the Canadian flag along Windsor, Ont.'s riverfront. (Travis Fortnum/CTV News Windsor)

A University of Windsor student says the internet blackout in Iran has left her feeling anxious, helpless and glued to the news as she is unable to reach her family as protests continue across the country.

Elnaz Akhavan moved to Canada from Iran four years ago and is now a PhD candidate and research assistant at the University of Windsor.

She says for more than 24 hours, she has not been able to contact her mother, who lives in Tehran, or other relatives and friends in different parts of the country.

“We cannot call them, we don’t know what’s happening to our family or friends,” Akhavan said. “We just don’t know.”

Iranian authorities have restricted internet and phone access amid ongoing protests, effectively cutting off communication with the outside world.

Akhavan says that makes it nearly impossible to know what is happening on the ground or whether loved ones are safe.

“I had to go to class today. I was in the class, but I couldn’t even listen because I had my earphone on my one ear and having the live news,” she said.

Akhavan says while fear and uncertainty remain high, she and many others watching from abroad feel a sense that “something is changing,” even as they struggle with what they can do from afar.

That sense of urgency is behind a protest planned for Saturday afternoon in Windsor.

The demonstration is set for 3 p.m. along Riverside Drive and is intended to raise awareness and show support for people in Iran who, Akhavan says, are being silenced by the blackout.

“We just need to be their voice,” she said. “Even talking about it, sharing information — that matters.”

Organizers are encouraging community members to attend and help draw attention to the situation, as families abroad continue waiting for news from home.