Former Warren and Markey Activist Calla Walsh Attends Khamenei Funeral in Tehran, Praises Late Leader

Calla Walsh, a young American activist with prior ties to Democratic campaigns including volunteering for Elizabeth Warren's 2020 presidential bid and work on Sen. Ed Markey's re-election, has drawn renewed attention for her appearance at the funeral of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. In video footage aired on Iranian state media, Walsh described Khamenei as the 'greatest anti-imperialist leader' of her lifetime while attending the large-scale mourning ceremonies following his death amid reported U.S.-Israeli strikes. Walsh, who co-founded Palestine Action US and has previously appeared on Iranian television, also participated in events featuring 'Death to America' chants reported by attendees and media. Her trajectory from Massachusetts Democratic youth organizing—highlighted in profiles by The New York Times and Boston Globe—to public statements aligned with Iranian state narratives has been noted across outlets. The funeral drew massive crowds in Tehran, with NBC News and The New York Times documenting the events and associated rhetoric. Earlier reports from NH Journal and The Free Press detailed Walsh's prior 2025 visit to Iran, where she made similar anti-American statements. Wikipedia entries on Walsh document her shift from progressive Democratic activism to far-left international advocacy.