Press Statement
March 6, 2015
Reference: Valerie Francisco, Chairperson, GABRIELA USA, gabrielawomen@gmail.com
GABRIELA USA members and allies across the country in Oakland, Seattle, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Portland, and New York City march together on International Working Women’s Day to protest ongoing state violence from the Philippines to their locales in the US. Filipino American and immigrant women have organized together this past year to protest and assert their rights for safety, dignity and justice. On March 8th, 2015, they again come together to make their demands clear for an end to systematic violence in our communities, in the workplace, and by the state.
This past year, GABRIELA USA’s main campaign to seek justice for Filipino teachers who are survivors of trafficking sought to intensify the man-hunt for Isidro Rodriguez, a labor trafficker who single-handedly breached contracts of over 300 Filipino teachers, many of which are still seeking justice. GABRIELA members from Washington DC have led the way by confronting Philippine Embassy officials, demanding support for their case and calling for accountability by the Philippine government. Still, the Aquino administration has yet to pay attention to their calls and provide accountability from Rodriguez who remains at large after his release last May 2013, continuing his illegal recruitment schemes and victimizing many more overseas workers. Despite the hundreds of complaints to the Department of Justice in the Philippines and recent sighting of Rodriguez in Spain, little to no action has been done to extradite him.
Furthermore, the murder of Jennifer Laude, a transgender woman, by Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton is a clear consequence of the danger of US military occupation in the Philippines. This international case demonstrates the puppetry of BS Aquino to US imperial powers as Aquino has kept silent and passive in achieving justice for Laude and her family. To add insult to injury, Aquino has continued to submit to US will by signing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) last year, allowing the US greater access to military bases in the Philippines. US militarization has been detrimental to country’s sovereignty, while the women continue to suffer from continued sexual assault and violence from their presence.
These examples of the Philippine state’s negligence to its migrant citizenry as well as the Filipino people in the homeland, move Filipino American women, migrant women and allies to mobilize on International Working Women’s Day and highlight the incompetence of BS Aquino. GABRIELA USA stands with millions of Filipinos in the Philippines and abroad calling for his immediate resignation and move towards the establishment of a transitional council.
In the US, GABRIELA USA members stand against the increasing police brutality and violence against Black people in the US, and other communities of color. In the past year, member organizations have joined the thousands of people who have insisted that Black lives matter. While state violence and repression continues in our communities, we must also march in the streets and stand against anti-trans violence and deaths that have spiked in the last year and often go unheard. GABRIELA USA will take the streets and speak out and fight for women and trans women for safety, justice, self-determination and liberation.
Justice for Trafficked Teachers and All Victims of Human Trafficking!
End Violence Against Women! End Transmisogyny Now! Justice for Jennifer Laude!
U.S. Out of the Philippines! Junk the Visiting Forces Agreement! Junk the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement!
AQUINO RESIGN!
Join us in commemorating the 105th Anniversary of International Working Women’s Day in the city near you!
Los Angeles, CA
Monday, March 9, 2015
Women Rise Up, Aquino Step Down!
6pm Rally at the Philippine Consulate
3435 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 550
Los Angeles, CA 90010
New York City, NY
Sunday, March 8, 2015
International Working Women’s Day Coalition 10th Anniversary March & Speak Out
End Police Brutality, State Repression and Militarization!
12pm Rally at Herald Square, 34th Street and 6th Ave.
1pm March
2pm Speak out at Solidarity Center, 147 West 24th st.
Oakland, CA
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Lake Merritt Amphitheater (12th st. & 1st ave.)
UPHOLD the LEGACY & POWER of WOMEN’S RESISTANCE HERE and ABROAD!
12PM Rally & Speak Out for Justice
12:30PM March to Rise & Resist
1:30PM Celebration for Women’s Strength & Resistance
Portland, OR
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Portland Waterfront Esplanade
Power Project
Join this community visual project to voice the powerful ways in which we thrive as women and build solidarity among the multiplicity of nations, ethnicities and cultures that create a Portland culture of resistance and fight, in the face of intense attacks on our livelihoods, our bodies, and our communities.
10am-5pm
Seattle, WA
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Rainier Valley Cultural Center – 3515 South Alaska St. Seattle, WA 98118
Women Who Rock – Rocking Media Justice Festival | womenwhorockcommunity.org
11 AM International Women’s Day Musical Brigade March
(Meet Rainier Ave. S & S Dawson St. Route heads to the Rainier Valley Cultural Center.)
1:00PM Rocking Medial Justice Festival
Washington, DC
Saturday, March 21
Building A Collective Struggle for Womyn’s Liberation
4:00 – 8:00 pm at Washington Peace Center (1525 Newton St NW, Washington, DC 20010)
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