Filipino Women: Rise & Unite! Advance the Interests of Filipino Working Women! GABRIELA USA Statement on the 2024 US Presidential Elections

While the US Presidential Elections comes to a conclusion soon, GABRIELA USA reiterates the call that genuine change will not come from a politician, but by the power of our mass movement! The crisis of US imperialism is worsening and impacting our families, our bodies and our livelihood. If we want to see positive change in our society, we cannot rely solely on a vote; we must also unite and fight for our rights and welfare!

Trump poses a severe threat to the people if he were to win the Presidency. Besides the fact that he is a convicted sexual abuser, Project 2025 will pave the way for full-blown fascism to be enacted in the United States. Under his first Presidency, Trump fueled anti-women culture and policy, even rolling back Roe v. Wade, placing conservative judges in the Supreme Court and making it that much more difficult for women to receive essential healthcare. He also emboldened and praised Duterte’s “War on Drugs” that has taken the lives of over 30,000+ Filipinos.

A win for Kamala Harris would pose similar issues; we must not be confused by her rhetoric that she is a champion of women’s rights. She has admitted full support for Israel, who has killed tens of thousands of women and children, and displaced hundreds of thousands more. She has also forged the way for US-Philippine military relations to deepen, having broken bread with Marcos Jr. multiple times and spearheading the building of a new EDCA site in Palawan.

Under both Presidencies, Filipino women, especially migrant workers, have suffered from wage theft, trafficking, state neglect and even violence. In Southern California, Filipina caregivers have been waging a fight against wage theft at Amity In-Home Care Services Inc, receiving late and bounced checks. Workers have been filing individual claims, revealing that some are owed anywhere between $50,000 to $300,000 in unpaid wages and penalties. GABRIELA chapters have been working with these workers to advocate for their needs and confront both their employer and the Philippine state to support them!

For undocumented Filipino migrants, women like Alma Bowman and Ligaya Jensen have both been kept in detention, medically neglected and forced to endure unlivable conditions. Even when she left detention, Alma Bowman still struggled with basic needs such as work, health and insurance all while being at threat of deportation. GABRIELA USA has been advocating for not only their release but for the Philippine state to address and provide aide to these women who suffered under ICE custody.

Violence against women (VAW) continues to plague our community. Whether motivated by anti-Asian racism, domestic violence or interpersonal violence, Filipino women have been made the targets of VAW. These women are also failed by the “justice” system, with their cases being prolonged or barely addressed. The most recent murder of Melissa Jubane is just one of too many women who are victims of VAW. Frances Lucero, Corazon Dandan, the Roque family and the Arriola-Ochengco family are just a few of the countless attacks on Filipino women and their families.

The Philippine government’s response to some of these cases have been insufficient, disbursing only small amounts of aid and shrugging their shoulders when asked to support the families in getting justice. GABRIELA chapters, however, have been side-by-side with the families and communities demanding justice!

Both Democrat and Republican parties are vying for power in the White House. The candidates of these two parties have either been in seats of power or are currently in office - yet nothing has genuinely changed in the interests of the people - especially working class Filipino women.

Most importantly both parties will continue to shackle the Philippines and its subservience to the U.S. They will both stoke provocations between the U.S. and China and promote anti-immigrant policies and beliefs.

Women will continue to be separated from their loved ones, unable to sustain their ability to provide for themselves and their families. And the rottenness of the capitalist system will continue to flourish.

Filipino women do not need imperialist war - we do not deserve to be exploited for our labor nor should we face the brunt of war and poverty. We see that the two candidates are the sides of the same coin - and that true change can only come from the people. That is why this year, we are calling on all Filipino women to join the movement for national democracy in the Philippines, to unite with other exploited and oppressed peoples and to fight for a future that will genuinely meet our needs.

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