Robert Levinson’s Family Rallies For His Release from Iran

Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
(JTA) — The family of Robert Levinson, a Jewish-American man who disappeared from Iran in 2007, held a rally, calling on the U.S. and Iran to work together to get him released.
Levinson, 68, of Coral Springs, Florida, a private detective and a former FBI agent, has been missing since disappearing from Iran’s Kish Island during what has since been revealed as a rogue CIA operation.
Wednesday will mark nine years since Levinson went missing.
Levinson family members, representatives of the FBI and politicians spoke Saturday at the rally in Coral Springs, Florida, the Sun Sentinel newspaper reported.
Many of the some 200 people that attended the rally pinned yellow ribbons to their clothing, and held signs with the hashtag reading: #WhatAboutBob. Also at the rally was glass jars filled with 3,288 hand-painted yellow rocks, each representing one day that Levinson has been held hostage.
The Obama administration said in January that Iran will “deepen its coordination” with the United States in efforts to find Levinston and return him to his family. The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a non-binding resolution last month urging Iran to fulfill its pledge to help find Levinson.
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
That’s why I’m paying it Forward, by matching $36,000 of reader gifts. It’s an investment in the Forward’s newsroom, to continue telling the American Jewish story with truth and independence.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
