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Past Actions |
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The murders of young women in Juarez.
November 2004--we co-sponsored events in support of the “Caravan” touring the country and arriving in Juarez, Mexico for the Day of the Dead in order to bring attention to the murders and mutilation of over 380 young women in many Mexican border towns. (http://www.mexicosolidarity.org/) We worked with Amnesty International and Hood College, and members of the local Hispanic Community, holding candlelight vigils and producing flyers and brochures in English and Spanish about this issue.
We publicly screened the award-winning film about the murders, “Seniorita Extraviada”, (now available at the Frederick County Public Library) and discussed the efforts to bring an end to the ongoing femicide.
PDF Juarez Brochure: Describes the issue and actions to take
The film "Señorita Extraviada, Missing Young Woman'', tells the haunting story of the more than 380 kidnapped, raped and murdered young women of Juárez, Mexico. Visually poetic, yet unflinching in its gaze, this compelling investigation unravels the layers of complicity that have allowed for the brutal murders of women living along the Mexico-U.S. border. In the midst of Juárez’s international mystique and high profile job market, there exists a murky history of grossly underreported human rights abuses and violence against women. Relying on what film maker Lourdes Portillo comes to see as the most reliable of sources – the testimonies of the families of the victims – " Señorita Extraviada" documents a two-year search for the truth in the underbelly of the new global economy.
WIB Frederick, August 2003 at DC Action
A Chorus of Women Street Theater
Earlier in 2004, we were inspired by the actions of WIB Australia, who sang laments in the Australian Parliament during the lead up to the Iraq war. We wrote and produced our own version as street theater, and performed several times throughout the year, during Frederick’s Festival for the Arts, In the Streets, and at an interfaith fundraiser for the homeless. We were a roving Greek “Chorus of Women”. We sang laments for the violence of war, and our wishes for leaders. We asked questions of the public about their role as citizens in a democracy. We called for citizens to find their own creative voice.
“Open the doors of the chambers (of your hearts)
Open your minds to our song
We sing for peace through the power of love
Hear the wisdom of women, hear our song.
Weep for our sisters in danger
Weep for our brothers and children
Sound the cries of grief and despair
Sound the lament for the dead.”
"Sorrow doesn’t oppose anything. It’s a form of love. Often, it’s more original and potent than rage. In many myths about the eternal cycle of the seasons and generations the song of grief brings life out of death.” ---Glenda Cloughley, WIB Australia
Israeli WIB co-founder Gila Svirsky in Frederick
In Winter of 2004, we were fortunate to be able to co-sponsor, with Hood College, a moving talk by Gila Svirsky, veteran Israeli peace activist, WIB Israel and co-founder of the Coalition of Women for Peace in Israel. She spoke about the impact of the occupation and current political policies on the heart and soul of Israel, and the work of the Israeli Women’s Peace movement. She spoke of the importance of engaging women in making the peace around the world, and how rarely that happens.
Women’s rights in Afghanistan and Iran
In Fall of 2003 we co-sponsored with Hood College, panel discussion for the public on women’s rights and foreign policy in Afghanistan and Iran.
Cultural exchange with Palestinian and US youth
In summer of 2003, we worked with Hydro-max, Inc. and others to sponsor a cultural exchange day between local teens and IBDDA, a Palestinian youth dance troupe then touring in the US.
WIB regional conference in Frederick
We were energized by a gathering of WIB from around the Mid-Atlantic region in the Fall of 2003 for a daylong conference of speakers and workshops.
Selected additional WIB Frederick Brochures and Flyers:
Plight of the Korean Comfort Women Brochure