Giving Compass' Take:

· As the death toll rises from protests in Iran, human rights organizations have called on the Iranian government to release demonstrators and resolve peace.

· How can activists help calm this problem in Iran? What can be done to support peace and the release of demonstrators? 

· Here's how the U.S. could help the Iranian people.

At least 304 people have been killed in the recent protests in Iran, Amnesty International reported on Monday, accusing security forces of "massacring" unarmed demonstrators.

Video footage obtained showed Iranian security forces opening fire on protesters "who did not pose any imminent risk", according to a report by the London-based rights group. It called the actions of the Iranian government a "vicious crackdown".

Philip Luther, the Middle East and North Africa director at Amnesty, said its information was based on "harrowing testimony from eyewitnesses".

Thousands of protesters, as well as journalists, human rights defenders and students, were arrested, the group said.

"Almost immediately after the Iranian authorities massacred hundreds of those participating in nationwide protests, they went on to orchestrate a wide-scale clampdown designed to instil fear and prevent anyone from speaking out about what happened," said Luther.

Most of the deaths were caused by gunshots to the head, heart, and other vital organs, indicating security forces were "shooting to kill", the report said.

Read the full article about protests in Iran by Mia Swart at Al Jazeera Media Network.