Welfare Warriors

spring 2005

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  Spring 2005

International Women’s Day Actions

            On March 8, International Women’s Day, 10,000 Haitian women marched in a protest in Bel-Air in Port-au-Prince. They demanded release of their loved ones imprisoned in the National Penitentiary, reinstatement of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and respect for their rights. Women dressed in white carried photos of family members murdered for supporting Aristide’s return.

            Philippine women wearing masks of President George W. Bush and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo marched at Manila’s Malacanang Palace for equal rights. 500 women with purple and red flags gathered at the Welcome Rotunda in Quezon City to denounce President Macapagal-Arroyo’s sales tax hike. As they called for her ouster, Gabriela/NCR led protesters called for higher wages, better conditions for migrant workers and real “Woman Power.”

            Pilakk, Makalaya and Likhaan, centers for women’s health and urban poor women and youth, led a march to the House of Representatives in Quezon City to demand passage of a reproductive rights bill. Gabriela and Woman Rage! joined the protest in Quezon City on this issue, while KPMI, Zoto and Kasama Ka went to Manila City Hall.

            Indonesian women in Solo, Central Java rallied to protest a 29% rise in fuel prices. Kurdish women carrying banners reading “No to War” and “We Are Women against Violence” joined a march of 5,000 Turkish women in Istanbul. Demonstrators in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and elsewhere in Asia called for women’s equal rights and an end to repressive laws and violence against women.

In Asuncion, Paraguay, women demonstrated for improved education, health care and housing. In Panama City they protested government plans to “reform” Social Security. Women marched for their rights in Ecuador, Mexico and El Salvador.

 Thousands of Brazilian women rallied on March 8. On the streets of Rio de Janeiro the chanted, “We want peace.” Indigenous women marched in Sao Paulo. Women in the Landless Movement demanded agrarian reform at the doors of the Ministry of Economy in Brasilia.

In Chile tens of thousands paid tribute at the funeral of Gladys Marin, a strong fighter for women’s rights. At an International Women’s Day speech, Antonio Infante, Chile’s sub-secretary of health, announced that the government of Chile would distribute free emergency contraception to all who wanted it. At $25 a dose, most poor women couldn’t afford it. Three times as many unwanted teen pregnancies occur in Chile’s poorest areas than in its riches. Unfortunately, within hours of Infante’s remarks his boss, Health Minister Pedro Garcia, fired him.

Officiating at Cuba’s International Women’s Day rally in Havana were Vilma Espin, “Heroine of the Republic,” Melba Hernandez, the mothers and wives of the Cuban Five political prisoners jailed in the US, and leaders of the Communist Party, the government and student organization. President Fidel Castro called attention to women’s role in “all forms of organization that will defend the country in case of attack or invasion.”

International Women’s Day was first celebrated in 1911 in Germany, Austria and Denmark. It was originally held on March 19, a date selected by German women based on an event in 1848 when the Prussian king promised women the right to vote. Soon after he made that promise, German women distributed over a million flyers calling for action on women’s right to vote. After the UN commemorated the celebration, it became a national holiday in many countries. The date was changed to March 8 to commemorate an event held in New York City. On March 8, 1857, thousands of women textile workers marched in the streets demanding better pay and working conditions.

Earlier in history, during the French Revolution, Parisian women calling for “liberty, equality, fraternity” marched on Versailles to demand women’s right to vote. And in ancient Greece, Lysistrata initiated a sexual strike against men to end war.

Info from Workers World

Support Sue and Abdullah Webster  

As part of the Global Women’s Strike held on International Women’s Day, Sue Webster is campaigning on behalf of her husband Abdullah, an African American soldier. Abdullah refuses to serve in Iraq because, as a Muslim, his religion forbids him to fight in an unjust and immoral war. Sue and Abdullah are part of a global movement of military families who refuse to kill.

In June 2004, a military court found Sgt. Webster guilty of failing to obey his superior’s commands. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison and given a dishonorable discharge. Amnesty International has declared him a prisoner of conscience. He has faced abuse by other prisoners in Fort Lewis including soldiers accused of torture of Iraqi prisoners, and needs medical care.

             Sgt. Webster was due to retire this year. Now he is denied the pension he earned during 20 years in the US army. The criminal record imposed by the military court will make it almost impossible for him to find work in the US. He faces problems rejoining his family in Britain.

Write to:

Demand immediate and unconditional release of Abdullah Webster, restoration of his pension and other benefits, proper medical care, and the right to practice his religion in detention. Send a copy of your letter to: Sue Webster payday@paydaynet.org  

Senate Supports Terrorist Attacks on Women  

On March 8 Senate voted to protect offenders convicted of violent acts against women’s clinics. On a vote of 53-46 the Senate voted down an amendment that would have prevented people convicted of violent acts against women’s health clinics, patients, and doctors from evading punishment by claiming bankruptcy to avoid paying court ordered fines.               

Since 1993, three doctors, two clinic employees, a clinic escort and a security guard have been murdered. Seventeen attempted murders have occurred since 1991. Since then, one attempted murder, two bombings, 18 arsons, 298 acts of vandalism, 642 anthrax threats, 121 bomb threats and 27 blockades have occurred at clinics.            

Info from NARAL