In 1985, six years after the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Khosrow Eqbal took Amir Karimpour and his newspaper Shuresh to task. The few sentences of condemnation for the largely forgotten publisher and his newspaper, both of which died 32 years earlier, affirm the importance not of just oppositional texts but those texts deemed “down-stream” and representing a “grassroots” sentiment too long ignored. In style and substance, Shuresh defies normative standards of journalism and the press. Eqbal, in fact, thus, considers neither Karimpour nor his newspaper journalism. Similarly, he does not consider the work even a part of critique. Instead, such content merely serves as libel and slander that defame members of government. In addition, the writers did not hesitate but appear to enjoy the extensive use of coarse and foul language. In exceeding the limits of acceptable society, Karimpour forced the government to either address the claims therein or to produce press laws. It chose the latter. Yet, missing from the normative parameters on acceptable speech and a free press are the ideas of Shuresh, its writers, and its supporters. Important to the study of modern historical texts in Iranian Studies is not just the down-stream content of Shuresh. As important is the ways in which the newspaper produced, consumed, and performed within society. As evidenced by Eqbal’s statements and by writers inside the country, Karimpour and Shuresh circulated and made an impact, for better or worse, on individuals from diverse socio-economic and political backgrounds. Vital to understanding the period (February 1951-August 1953) is Shuresh’s call for and participation in riots that occurred in Tehran and elsewhere. Vociferously backing Prime Minister Mossaddeq, Shuresh demanded Iranians of all backgrounds, from all regions of the country, catalyze and participate in riots to lead a revolution for a democratic and egalitarian government. Despite being banned and costing 100x its cover price on the black market, Shuresh remained in demand and part of the civil unrest that rocked Iran until the end of Mosaddeq’s government and the death of Karimpour.