Ed Fuentes

Friends, family, elected officials and countrymen found their way to the intersection of 7th and Broadway on Thursday afternoon for the dedication of Ezat Delijani Square.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined on Thursday afternoon to dedicate the intersection of 7th and Broadway as Ezat Delijani Square. Delijani, who came to the United States to escape Iran's Islamic Revolution, owns four historic theaters within one block of the site.

Delijani told a large crowd of family, friends, and Downtown advocates that anything is possible when you are in the United States, and closed his comments with the simple creed that if you are able to give back to a country that offers so much opportunity, it's a civic duty to do so.

The developer's purchase of the Los Angeles Theatre in 1982 was driven by that civic duty, as Mayor Tom Bradley asked him to purchase the historic structure and save it from demolition. Delijani has since purchased the Palace, State and Tower theaters.

Councilman Jose Huizar hosted the dedication. His office has spearheaded the Bringing Back Broadway movement, hoping to return life to the Broadway corridor. Delijani is one of the effort's Broadway Trustees.

During the ceremony, Villaraigosa asked the crowd to observe a moment of silence for those caught up in the political unrest of Delijani's native Iran.