CodePink Protester Attacked at DNC

August 30, 2008, category

politics, random acts of activism, sexism, violence against women

I saw this early yesterday morning and am still angry (well, angry doesn’t really cover it; it’s more like seething) disgusted and thoroughly sickened by this.

A few days ago at the Democratic National Convention, a CodePink protester was the victim of obscene police brutality as she was shoved to the ground with a baton of a police officer with excessive force while the police officer yelled “back it up, bitch.” While talking to reporters about how she (and other protesters) were treated during the protest, the cop then went over to her, grabbed her by the arm and violently pulled her away from the reporters.

The CodePink protester, Alicia Forrest, 24, of Los Angeles, was arrested on charges of “interference.” But what is this interference they speak of? Forrest had allegedly witnessed the arrest of an unidentified man in the street near the Denver Civic Center Park when she and others nearby asked police why the man was being arrested. So one man gets arrested for obviously nothing, since officers were being asked why the man was being arrested and because of this they also get arrested. Yeah, that makes perfect sense to me!

Forrest was transferred to the Denver City Jail where bond was posted for $580 bail and was held for the night. After getting out of jail, Forrest said this:

“I was standing up for my free speech rights, showing support for a fellow activist,” Forrest said. “If anything, this showed me how powerful standing up for your beliefs can be, and how necessary it is for the truth to get out even in the face of resistance.”

CODEPINK co-founder Jodie Evans called watching the video footage distressing.

“Here we are CODEPINK activists, here to deliver the message of peace, and how ironic that we would witness the exact violence we oppose,” Evans said. “How is it that a Denver cop would be afraid of a peace activist with a pink crown on her head? What have we become?”

The video of the violence against Forrest and her arrest are below, but I wouldn’t recommend going to the YouTube page to read the comments–They are full of sexism and misogyny and very triggering.

Who else thinks it’s kind of ironic that I was listening to the song What’s Going On when I was reading about this and again when I started writing it?

Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
What’s going on

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Help Support Locks of Love with Social Media

August 21, 2008, category

music, random acts of activism

Heavy As Hell, a social media site for music of the rock, metal, punk, industrial and goth variety was relaunched at the beginning of this month. Not only is this good news for all music lovers, bloggers and followers everywhere, but it is also good news for Locks of Love.

Locks of Love helps financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love suffer from a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. Locks of Love provides hairpieces to children to help to restore their self-esteem and confidence, which can of course be hard because children their own age are most of the time a child’s worst critics. By receiving a prostheses from Locks of Love these children are rejuvenated, feeling like just another normal child free to live their lives free of ridicule and feelings of insecurity.

Mark Carras, founder of Heavy As Hell has designed a challenge for the members of the Heavy As Hell community and also for people who may have never heard of the social media site in hopes of inspiring other music lovers to jump on board and help out a great cause. Because this challenge launched in the very beginning of August and has yet to take off as much as we would like to see, Mark has extended the challenge. First of all, here is the original challenge video:

Changes in the challenge since then include getting 250 on topic stories on the front page of Heavy As Hell by the end of this month, which gives us 9 more days! If 250 on topic music stories get on the front page of Heavy As Hell by August 31, we will then have until September 30 to reach 1000 stories gracing the front page of the site. As soon as 250 stories are made popular, the wife of Mark Carras, The Queen of Cheese will be donating one foot of her hair to Locks of Love and the popularity ticker will keep on ticking until 1000 stories are reached, where Mark Carras will shave his head and donate $1000 to Locks of Love to sponsor a child. We’re talking cumulative here, so reaching 1000 stories is made even easier by the counter on popular stories not being restarted to reach 1000.

I have personally donated hair to Locks of Love–Over 11 inches of it and love what Locks of Love are doing for children who frankly would benefit from your hair more than you. It’s a worthwhile cause and I know I will be donating to them again, I’m already in the process of growing my hair out again. But if you don’t have the means (or patience) to donate to them yourself, the least you could do is support someone else who wants to do a good deed and Mark Carras is presenting a fun opportunity to get everyone on board.

So if you’re a music lover or even if you’re not particularly interested in the type of music Heavy As Hell covers, but have some interesting music industry news, go over to Heavy As Hell, sign up, submit your story and also vote up some others and help support Locks of Love. Mark Carras really wants to shave his head so let’s help him do it.

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Day of Blogs Was a Whopping Success!

July 29, 2008, category

random acts of activism

I always end up missing some amazing news when I pull a disappearing act and this time was yet another one of those cases.

RAINN Day of Blogs took place on July 26th to the 27th to raise money for RAINN.

If you don’t know anything about RAINN, it is the rape, abuse, and Incest National Network, the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization and also one of America’s 100 best charities. The work RAINN does is absolutely amazing. They operate the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1.800.656.HOPE) which puts survivors and victims of sexual assault and abuse in touch with trained volunteers spanning over 1,100 local rape treatment hotlines. Since the hotline opened in 1994, RAINN has helped over 1 million people and counting. They also recently launched an online hotline, for those people who feel more comfortable opening up and talking about what is bothering them online, rather than on the phone. Their website gives survivors and friends and families of survivors information and statistics on sexual assault and healing, information on how to reach out and get help through local crisis centers near to you, how to support RAINN and also information on how to get involved yourself with sexual assault awareness and prevention.

RAINN has helped, like I said, a million people and counting and the reason why so many people support RAINN and their efforts to help survivors go on to lead fulfilling lives is because of how RAINN helps people. As a woman who has called RAINN myself when needing someone to talk to about my personal life experiences or just someone to help keep my mind off the bad stuff, just by calling RAINN, I was put in contact with my local Women’s Resource Center and it is through them that I began to heal and become a survivor, rather than a victim. It’s no wonder why RAINN has such astounding support; it’s because they care about people and want to make the world a better place.

The Day of Blogs was an amazing effort to raise money for RAINN needed to run their 24/7 hotline and online hotline, as well as to educate the public about sexual assault and prevention. Like I said, the work they do is amazing and bloggers helped spread the word about RAINN and the work they do and about sexual assault awareness through a one day blogathon! Blogging every half hour for 24 hours, these bloggers helped raise over $11,000 for RAINN, which is kick ass!

One blog in particular that I just finished reading through was the Day of Blogs by Cara over at The Curvature who raised $444 for RAINN with 17 contributors. As a devout reader of her website, I expected brilliance reading her 24 hours of posting and was not let down in the least, so I am urging everyone out there who missed The Day of Blogs, like me, to head on over to Cara’s Day of Blogs and realize why sexual assault prevention and awareness is much needed today. You rock, Cara!

If you’re a bit disheartened that you missed Day of Blogs and wish to donate to RAINN to help their efforts, you can do so right on their website.

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Recent Reproductive Rights Triumphs

May 22, 2008, category

random acts of activism, reproductive rights

There has been a lot of news on reproductive rights lately and sadly, I have not covered any of it. So here is all of the happy reproductive rights news I missed!

Plan B Canada has approved emergency contraception pill, Plan B, for over-the-counter sale. Emergency contraception sale in Canada was available over-the-counter in 2005, but only partially, as it was only available to women who had a medical consultation with a pharmacist.

If you’re curious as to what the status of emergency contraception sale in the US is, EC is available over-the-counter, however, women have had a hard time trying to actually obtain the pill due to pharmacists who should go and find a job that they can actually do, instead of punishing women because of their personal morals. Other things women have had to put up with trying to get Plan B are scare tactics, age limitations and conscience clause laws.

In other news:

- The UK has ruled 332 to 190 that they will not lower the abortion limit from 24 weeks to 20 weeks. A ruling trying to lower the abortion limit from 24 weeks to 22 weeks was opposed 304 votes to 233. Yay, UK!

- A law that would essentially criminalize all second trimester abortions in Virginia was struck down by a federal appeals court panel.

In a 2-to-1 decision, a panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled that the law was more restrictive than the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, which the United States Supreme Court upheld last year in Gonzales v. Carhart.

…”Unlike the federal act,” Judge Michael wrote, “the Virginia act subjects all doctors who perform” the more common procedure “to potential criminal liability, thereby imposing an unconstitutional burden on a woman’s right to choose.”

And lastly, here’s some reproductive rights activism via Feministing.

Susan Wicklund, an abortion provider living in Montana has recently written a memoir about her life as an abortion provider entitled This Common Secret. (Also note: I need this book!)

Dr. Wicklund is currently trying to open a new clinic in Montana where there are very few reproductive rights resources for women. However, like most of these cases, pressure from the anti-choice population is hindering her from being able to open the new clinic and building owners will not lease to her due to the pressure the anti-choicers are putting on them. So, to help Dr. Wicklund, a PayPal account has been opened in her name so she can most likely build a new building and open the new clinic.

If you would like to donate, please send an email to supportsuewicklund@gmail.com and ask for information on how to donate.

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Bloggers Unite: Same-Sex Marriage

May 15, 2008, category

LGBT, random acts of activism

Bloggers Unite When the person you want to spend the rest of your life with ends up in the hospital in the intensive care unit and you are told that you are not allowed to see them because you aren’t “family” is unacceptable.

When the person you want to spend the rest of your life with gets in an accident and is killed and you are not made aware of this except for when their family tells you because you aren’t “family” is unacceptable.

When the person you shared your life with is gone and you are not consulted when planning their viewing, funeral, etc. because you aren’t “family” is unacceptable.

Not only are the three examples above unacceptable, they are also a direct violation of human rights.

Same-sex marriage has had a triumph recently. Today, as if it were planned for Bloggers Unite for Human Rights Day, California’s highest court ruled that denying same-sex couples the right to marry is unconstitutional.

This historic victory makes not only myself, but all human rights activists out there insanely happy. It is amazing that the country’s biggest state has opened their eyes and decided not to continue along with many other states out there who don’t believe that same-sex marriage should be legal and make marriage a universal right for everyone.

While same-sex marriage has had a triumph, this coming November opponents of marriage equality are pushing to get a constitutional amendment on California’s November ballot to ban same-sex marriage. If you would like to stand up for marriage equality, please consider signing this petition and pledge to vote no on any constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in California.

While this issue is one of many in the insanely large category of human rights, take a look over at the Bloggers Unite community and read what other bloggers are saying about human rights that mean the most of them–And if you have also participated in this day, go plug your post!

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Bloggers Unite for Human Rights 2008

May 12, 2008, category

random acts of activism

Bloggers Unite for Human Rights is taking place on May 15! This “blogging event” is being sponsored by Blog Catalog and they are urging all the bloggers out there to blog about human rights and draw attention to the challenges and successes of human rights issues.

For those of you out there (much like myself) who are thinking “This is a great event! However, human rights is a very broad topic, so what am I supposed to be blogging about?” Well, they have a few suggestions. Topics for Bloggers Unite may consist of the wrongful imprisonment of journalists covering assemblies, governments that ignore the plight of citizens (*ahem* Sound familiar?) and censorship of the Internet.

No matter what you write about, what is important is that on one day, thousands of bloggers will unite and share their unified support of human rights everywhere.

In order to participate, sign up for Bloggers Unite on their website, add one of their badges to your website’s sidebar and on May 15, share your human rights post with the Bloggers Unite community on Blog Catalog.

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Happy International No Diet Day!

May 6, 2008, category

body image, random acts of activism

Today is International No Diet Day, which I think is a fabulous day to celebrate!

I believe that women should not be seen purely as sex symbols and that there is no such thing as a “perfect weight.” So often, when women are trying to reach their “perfect” weight by going on a diet, they become obsessed with weight loss and diets in general to the point where their perfect weight keeps getting lower and you fall victim to the evil life of anorexia or bulimia. People so often forget that there are physical and mental health risks when going on a crash diet that at first you swear is temporary.

The diet industry manipulates people into believing that they will never be seen as attractive or sexy unless they are a size two which is not only disgusting, but something that the diet industry should be of ashamed of themselves for. However, they do not feel ashamed or sorry for the amount of lives that they have ruined while reinforcing the idea of being the perfect size, specifically to women. Making billions of dollars per year, the industry understands the minds of women; they understand that if they make women believe that they aren’t skinny enough or that they aren’t beautiful, that they can ultimately cash in on other people’s self loathing and that is both terrifying and disgusting.

So today, in celebration of International Diet Day, I am urging people out there not only to break away from their diets today, but for good. It has been proven that diets do not work and if you lose weight at first, weight management is a bitch and more often than not, people not only gain their weight back, but they put on more weight from binge eating after starving themselves or not allowing their bodies the necessary nutrients that it needs to live.

If you are dieting to lose weight for health reasons, it is always wise to get the facts about diets or to consult your doctor and stress that you will not be taking pills, drinking weight loss beverages and etcetera and see if they have any other ideas as to how you can effectively lose weight and maintain your health.

Today would be a great day to strip down, maybe take a nice bubble bath, drink some wine and then afterward, look at yourself in the mirror–Yes, completely naked. While some may not like what they see, you must realize that your body is solely yours and putting it through hell will not make you feel better and ultimately will not make you look better. You are beautiful just the way you are and no one else has any right to tell you or lead you to believe any differently.

You may also want to check out a fabulous, fabulous post, A public service announcement from your body and also check out some fat acceptance blogs, such as the Big Fat Blog, Shapely Prose, or some others that are listed ideally on the Shapely Prose blog.

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Reclaim Your Voice While Helping Others

April 13, 2008, category

random acts of activism, sexual assault

teddy I recently came across the Teddy Tour, which is run by Megan from Imaginif and Leigh from All for Women; both are truly excellent sites.

Teddy Tour is about giving survivors of childhood sexual abuse a voice through a really unique concept–plush teddy bears. It doesn’t matter if you are male or female or what age you are now; if you were sexually abused as a child, you are able to take part in the tour.

The process is simple–You fill out a teddy tag (don’t worry, it’s completely anonymous and your name will not appear on your tag) either by filling out the form to send one instantly or you can download and print out this tag and send it out in the mail. You can also make your own tag or decorate the mail-in tag to personalize it a bit more.

After your tag is received, it will be put on a plush teddy bear, a picture of it will be taken for the website and it will then be sold at Imaginif where all proceeds go straight to a survivor of child abuse.

This is an excellent project, I love it. I filled out a teddy tag for myself and hope that all survivors of childhood sexual abuse will do so as well, it’s an excellent cause and not only are you reclaiming your voice and rising above your abuse, you are also helping other survivors in the process. What could be better than that?

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5th Annual Race to Stop the Silence

April 11, 2008, category

random acts of activism, sexual assault

I thought I was too late with this, but luckily, I’m not!

stop the silence race This Sunday, April 13, is the 5th Annual Race to Stop the Silence, presented by the Ms. Foundation for Women and The Washington Post, in an effort to raise awareness and stop the silence surrounding child sexual abuse. It will take place at 8:30am in Anacostia Park in Washington DC.

If you are around the Washington DC area, I cannot urge you enough to go and be part of this amazing activist effort. Child sexual abuse is a silent epidemic and it is only growing more rapidly out of control. If you wish to take part in the 10k race and the 5K pledge walk you can register either today, tomorrow or Sunday before the race at a tent near the skating rink at Anacostia Park, which will open at 6:30am. Download the registration form here and bring it to the balcony of the Old Post Office Pavilion at 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. Also, you can download the agenda of activities here. (PDF)

This is definitely a great cause; for those of you who are already signed up and ready to go, good luck; and for the rest of you, go download the registration form!

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This is What a Feminist Looks Like

April 8, 2008, category

random acts of activism

This video was put out by the Feminist Majority Foundation and has been out for a little while now, but it is truly a timeless video debunking those stereotypical feminist myths and using celebrities and familiar faces such as America Ferrera, Larry David, Michael Moore and Lisa Loeb to tell people what feminism is, who feminists are and what feminists stand for.