International Working Women’s Day is being celebrated today in various parts of the world to bring attention to the plight of non-men. But very few of these commemorations address the relationship between women, war and imperialism, particularly how non-European, colonized and working-class women are impacted.
Therefore, Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) member organizations are using this day to remind the world that—in the spirit of the original International Working Women’s Day actions, where women took to the streets of Saint Petersburg, Russia, calling for “Bread and Peace”—this day must center the fight against war and imperialism.
Erica Caines, member of BAP-Baltimore and BAP’s Coordinating Committee, organized a webinar last year that highlighted how militarized policing domestically and U.S. global military aggression conspires to limit and degrade the fundamental human rights of African and colonized women. According to Caines, “In the last 10 years, as U.S. imperialism expanded—coinciding with the increase of police repression backed by Department of Defense programs—there has been a deliberate attack on internationalism. That makes it harder for colonized people in the United States to understand why and how what happens abroad directly affects us here—especially working-class Black women in the binds of triple oppression."
For BAP member organization AfroResistance, International Working Women’s Day provides an opportunity to cast the lens on the intensifying struggles of African/Black communities throughout the “Americas” region. African/Black women often lead the way. “We want to bring attention to the fight for Black and ethnic rights not only in the context of the fight for self-determination in Honduras, but also to the struggles of Black women in Colombia and Brazil,” according to AfroResistance’s director Janvieve Williams.
Tonight’s AfroResistance webinar, “Our Realities: Black Women Speak from Their Territories,” features Mirtes Souza of Brazil and Sara Quiñones of Colombia, both of whom are AfroResistance fellows. The webinar will provide “an opportunity to connect with women who have been directly impacted by state violence and are still paying the price for it. This will be a very intimate conversation between two Black Women who will share with us why it is important to have spaces where they can share, heal, grow and bear it all.”
From the South Bronx to Haiti, and from Honduras to Africa, March 8 must be a day of struggle, one that re-centers the ongoing struggles for democracy, self-determination and People(s)-Centered Human Rights.
PRESS AND MEDIA
On the March 2 episode of “Voices With Vision” on WPFW (89.3 FM in Washington, D.C.), Netfa Freeman, who represents BAP member organization Pan-African Community Action (PACA) on BAP’s Coordinating Committee, and co-host Craig Hall, reported on political prisoner Mumia Abu Jamal having contracted COVID-19. They re-broadcast an interview Black Agenda Report Executive Editor Glen Ford did with activist Pam Africa for Black Agenda Radio. The second half of the show featured Black Power Media’s coverage of the BAP-led Washington, D.C., demonstration for the people of Haiti in front of the Embassy of Haiti. That was supplemented with a one-on-one interview with BAP member Nnenna Amuchie, one of the key organizers of the action.
Black Alliance for Peace members rallied March 1 in front of the Haitian embassy in Washington, D.C., to express solidarity with the Haitian working class and against the US-backed intervention that has been taking place for decades. BAP Coordinating Committee member Erica Caines read out loud BAP's statement on Haiti. Then Dedan Waciuri, who represents Black Workers for Justice on BAP's Coordinating Committee, spoke about the interconnectedness of African/Black struggles across the diaspora, from the United States to Haiti and beyond. Watch other videos from the rally here. Also, check out BAP’s resources page on Haiti.
BAP member Jacqueline Luqman, and co-host Sean Blackmon—hosts on Radio Sputnik’s “By Any Means Necessary”—spoke to Nnenna about the Haiti rally and the politics of the situation.
On a Black History month edition of 1+1, BAP's Netfa Freeman and his Eritrean historian friend, Amanuel Biedemariam, were interviewed about the history of Ethiopia—from the reign of Haile Selassie to being a pawn of Western divide-and-conquer to the neo-colonial age.
Netfa and BAP member Dr. Jemima Pierre joined Radio Sputnik’s “The Critical Hour” to discuss Haiti, starting 100:48 minutes into the show.
The International Conference Against US/NATO Military Bases, held on November 16-18, 2018 in Dublin, Ireland, declared February 23—the anniversary of the U.S. illegal occupation of Guantanamo—as the International Day of Action against US/NATO Military Bases. Black Alliance for Peace Coordinating Committee member Margaret Kimberley spoke on behalf of BAP during a February 28, 2021 webinar.
Margaret also was interviewed 59 minutes into Radio Sputnik’s “The Critical Hour” about Haiti, China, Iran and the continuation of U.S. imperialism from Trump to Biden.
BAP National Organizer Ajamu Baraka gave a talk 40:30 minutes into the Black Is Back’s March 6 webinar, “Fascism - Neoliberalism & the Way Forward!”
Erica spoke with Ramiro Fúnez and others about Walter Rodney's book, “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa,” for Anticonquista's political education session.
Jacqueline and her husband, Abdusshahid, are doing a monthly segment on imperialism in Africa on Black Power Media’s YouTube channel. The inaugural segment featured Milton Allimadi, publisher of Black Star News.
BAP Coordinating Committee members Dr. Charisse Burden-Stelly and Erica as well as BAP member and recording artist NoName discussed the legacy of Black socialists on Episode 5 of The Last Dope Intellectual, powered by Black Power Media.
BAP member Terrance Hawkins and his comrades organized a virtual Black History Month Freedom Ride online that explored the legacy of Black radicalism in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The city is home to the Local 22 workers union led by Black women & the first Black Panther Party of the U.S. South.
Credit: Joe Piette
BAP member Asantewaa Nkrumah-Ture (featured above on right) spoke out in support of the predominantly African/Black workers at the Amazon facility in Bessemer, Alabama. She can be heard 17:30 minutes into this livestream of a rally that took place in front of a Whole Foods in Philadelphia. Southern Workers Assembly also supported pro-worker actions throughout the United States. Last week, BAP released a statement in support of African/Black workers from Alabama to Haiti.
BAP member YahNé Ndgo spoke on a panel to Jacqueline on a Luqman Nation livestream—powered by Black Power Media—that delved into lessons learned after the Black Lives Matter Global Network amassed $90 million in 2020, while on-the-ground activists struggled with everything from bail support to COVID relief.
EVENTS
March 8: BAP member organization AfroResistance is hosting a webinar in honor of International Working Women’s Day, “Our Realities: Black Women Speak From Their Territories.” Register here.
March 9: Netfa will speak on a webinar dedicated to Haiti. Watch the livestream here at 8 p.m., EST.
March 10: PACA's Assata Shakur Study Group will discuss Assata Shakur's life, politics and her essay “Letter to My People,” published on July 4,1973. Who is Assata Shakur? What was her involvement with the Black liberation Army? What watchwords in her letter can we apply to today? Register here.
March 10: Gateway Greens is hosting a webinar dedicated to Honduran environmentalist Berta Caceres, who was murdered March 2, 2016. Register here.
March 11: Massachusetts Peace Action will host a webinar featuring Haitian activist Dahoud Andre at 7 p.m., EST. Click here to register.
March 13: Dissenters is hosting Anti-Militarist Organizing 101 training for young people, with a priority on 18- to 24-year-olds.
March 13: BAP member organization Horn of Africa Pan-Africans for Liberation and Solidarity (HOA PALS) is hosting a webinar, “Shutdown AFRICOM In Somalia: A Conversation On U.S Militarism In Somalia.” Register here.
March 27-29: March 29 is the anniversary of the 1987 Haitian Constitution, written after the overthrow of Jean-Claude “Papa Doc” Duvalier. We encourage you to rally at Haitian embassies or consulates (located in Chicago, Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., and Miami) or at federal buildings or places that are highly visible. Submit your action using this form. Find an action here.
March 25-31: Join CODEPINK for an online exhibit to express solidarity with the people in Haiti who are in struggle for democracy, justice and reparations. Find information on how to participate here.
TAKE ACTION
Sign BAP petitions calling for an end to the 1033 program and peace in Afghanistan.
Dedan is being charged for inciting a riot and damaging government property. Sign this petition to demand charges be dropped.
Our brother, former political prisoner Jalil Muntaqim, faces the possibility of re-incarceration for filling out a voter registration form. Sign this petition to demand charges be dropped.
The Black Latina Girls and Women Fund was created by BAP member organization AfroResistance, a Black Latina women-led organization in the service of Black Latinx women in the Americas. This fund offers financial support by giving money directly to Black Latin womxn, girls and femmes who are experiencing severe financial need across the region, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether in Brazil, Colombia, United States or Panama, Black Latina girls, women, and femmes are organizing in their local communities in the fight against several forms of state violence. You can donate here and people are encouraged to use the hashtag #BlackLatinaGWFund.
Sign up to join BAP’s U.S. Out of Africa Network to receive the bi-weekly AFRICOM Watch Bulletin in your inbox.
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No Compromise, No Retreat!
Struggle to win,
Ajamu, Charisse, Dedan, Erica, Jaribu, Margaret, Netfa, Nnamdi, Paul, Rafiki
P.S. Freedom isn’t free. Consider giving today.
Banner photo: Protestors shout slogans and march in a rally in response to the murder of Brazilian councilwoman Marielle Franco in Sao Paolo, Brazil, March 15, 2018. (Leonardo Benassato)