By way of update to my post, "Women Speak: In Praise of Afghan Protesters", an MSNBC Video on RAWA's shelters for child brides and abused women in Afghanistan.
Here is a plea from two NYC lesbians that I received in my email a couple of days ago. They were beaten during a police arrest in the 77th Precinct. The Audre Lorde Project’s SOS Campaign is taking the lead on organizing a response, including a rally on June 6th. The email is printed in its entirety. (Note: just updated so as not to confuse anyone - this didn't happen to me.)
Hey ya’ll…
I am writing today with a heavy heart. And for me no matter how much the world seems to dissappoint me I always want to bounce back. But this time is a little different.
I and another lesbian in the community were involved in a BRUTAL BEATING by ALL MALE COPS the 77th PRECINCT of the NYPD.
It took place at the IFE LOUNGE, corner of Nostrand & Atlantic in Brooklyn. I know for a fact there were at least 100-200 woman outside at the time and I am hearing rumors of video footage. LOOK LADIES… IF YOU FIND CAN FIND A PARTY SO F-IN IMPORTANT, THAT YOU HAVE THE TIME TO TELL A FRIEND TO TELL A FRIEND TO POST BULLETINS TO EMAIL FLYERS. THEN I WOULD HOPE YOU WOULD HAVE THE TIME TO ASK A FRIEND TO ASK A FRIEND TO ASK A FRIEND TO FIND PICTURES VIDEOS, WRITTEN TESTIMONY TO SUPPORT THE FACT THAT TWO OF YOUR OWN WERE BEATEN IN THE STREET BY POLICE!!!
NOT ONLY WERE WE BEATEN, COPS HURLED ANTI-GAY STATEMENTS AS THEY RAISED THIER NIGHT STICKS IN THE AIR. LIKE “YOU FUCKIN BITCH ASS DYKE”… AND THEN HAD THE AUDACITY IN FRONT OF THEIR OWN SEARGENT AND THE REST OF THERE BROTHERS AND SISTERS SAY “WE ARE HAVIN SOME DYKE PUSSY IN HERE TONIGHT”
Really ladies… This crime wasn’t about me or about the other female involved. As I laid there and I felt the night sticks hit me, I thought of Martin Luther King, and what he had to endure just for us to have the freedoms we do today. I immediately relaxed my body, put my arms up where they can see I wasn’t resisting, and screamed at the top of my lungs for someone to hit record on there camera. As they pulled me into the car I knew then that they picked the wrong quote unquote “DYKE”, to mess with.
TODAY!!! ITS TIME FOR US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!! I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely tired of the way police, club owners & bouncers treat us. If you didn’t know what they think about YOU. I hope you RECOGNIZE NOW, what it really is.
THIS IS WHAT WE NEED:
1. VIDEO FOOTAGE
2. PICTURE FOOTAGE
3. WRITTEN TESTIMONIES W/CONTACT INFORMATION
PLEASE EMAIL ME ASAP!!!
DON’T LET ANYONE TELL YOU IT ISN’T YOUR BUSINESS, IT IS. IF YOU HANG WITH US, PRAY WITH US, IF YOU PARTY WITH US, IF YOU SHOW YOUR PRIDE WITH US, THIS CRIME WAS COMMITTED AGAINST YOU AND MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY. Email me @ civilrights@LadiesLoveLadies.com
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Comments
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Time:
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Location:
77th Precinct
Street:
St. Marks and Utica
City/Town:
Brooklyn, NY
Thank you for this post and video.
This isn't about women's rights. This isn't about gay and lesbian rights. This is about human rights. I hope in my lifetime I see us all reach the category of "human". Your post shows me how far we have to go. Rated, obviously.
Livemonster, thank you for getting the word out.
Fireyes, I agree, we have to fight domestic violence no matter where it happens. I would add, sadly, that the crime has no preference in terms of sexual orientation, either.
RenaissanceLady, thank you for reading. Aren't these women in Afghanistan amazing? I should have added these links earlier (it's on my first post on women activists in Afghanistan):
RAWA: http://www.rawa.org/index.php
Women for Afghan Women: http://www.womenforafghanwomen.org/
Having seen the erosion of reproductive rights under the Bush administration, I feel as though we've been thrust back, also.