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5-30-2001

Resist Newsletter, May 2001

Resist

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Recommended Citation Resist, "Resist Newsletter, May 2001" (2001). Resist Newsletters. 332. https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/resistnewsletter/332 Inside: Appalachian Women's Alliance

ISSN0897-2613 •Vol.10#1 A Call to Resist Illegitimate Authority May2001 Sisters in Action for Power Raise Roof Girls and Young Women Learn to Lead the Struggle for Social Change

AMARAPEREZ Sisters in Action are door-knocking, lead­ membership organization that works with ing membership meetings, working with low-income women and girls of color. We "Are you glad I have been coming to public officials and the media, training other develop members' leadership and organiz­ Sisters in Action? I bet you thought I was members on turning issues into campaigns, ing skills by engaging them in identifying, never going to stay? " initiating and implement­ "Yes I did because of ing direct action issue your style. " campaigns designed to "Because ofmy style?" promote racial, gender "Yes, your mind and and economic justice. concerns for rights and your interest in history and Girls on the Front Line action! I I!. " In 1998 Sisters in Ac­ tion for Power launched is was taken from a a campaign against Tri ote being passed Met, Portland's Public T:between two girls, 12 Transit System. After two and 15 years old, during a years of making presen­ youth night movie. I found tations at Board meet­ it stuck between cushions ings, hosting community on the couch underneath speak-outs, and gathering pizza crusts and broken the support of students, combs. It made me smile as teachers and leaders I thought about girls, like throughout the commu­ nity, members of Sisters in these two, who naturally Group members protest outside the Tri Met office for access to public change because of their in­ transportation. Photo courtesy of Sisters in Action for Power Action wanted results. volvement in the organiza­ During the summer of tion-the way they see themselves, their storming into the offices of people in posi­ 2000, more than 15 middle and high school role in the world and their capacity to make tions of power and having long discussions girls, and many of their mothers, marched a difference. about colonialism. For low-income girls in unannounced into the office of Tri Met's Most of the girls at Sisters in Action for Portland this is the only place where such General Manager, Fred Hansen. There were Power spend their most formative years skills are strengthened and leadership op­ several attempts made at the door by Tri building and strengthening their leadership portunities are designed to support them Met staff, secretaries and security guards skills in the context of building collective in taking action. to discourage these young women from en­ power and promoting progressive change. Sisters in Action for Power is an tering the office, including: lies that Mr. At 13, 14, 15 years of age, young women at intergenerational, multi-racial, multi-issue continued on page two

Vol. 10, #5 RESIST Newsletter Page 1 Sisters in Action for Power

Hansen was not in the building; paternal­ istic coaxing suggesting real ladies did not behave like this; and threats to herd the group of girls to the police station. These young women simply wanted Mr. Hansen to follow through on his promise to present Sisters in Action for Power's resolution at the Tri Met Board budget review. After one hour of persuasive testimony from students and mothers and reporting on research findings, Mr. Hansen agreed. After this victory, youth-led chants and cheers filled the sterile administrative build­ ing. Staff came from every floor, gathered at windows and peeped around their cu­ bicle walls to catch a glimpse of this well organized and tightly unified group of girls. After the action one youth member wrote in her journal, " ... doing direct action gives you this burning sensation in your Members of Sisters in Action for Power gather outside the office in Portland. Photo stomach that lasts a long time. Nothing else courtesy of Sister in Action for Power in the world feels like that. This is why we ers, take action and work with other girls program creates a fire, a burning drive to do actions to make changes." and women to do that." make change. It is rooted in the personal, Sisters in Action is an inter-generational connected to the political and inherently Taking on Projects for Justice organization that prioritiezes the full par­ promotes collective action. For example, we Our first campaign in 1996 aimed to raise ticipation and leadership of girls and young have been conducting a three-month awareness and encourage institutional ac­ women. Youth under 18 were recruited first project on the historical context and legacy tion on the problem of gender violence and in the organization's beginning base-build­ continued on page three the lack of safety for girls in the Portland ing efforts. Young women develop and Public School District. Led primarily by strengthen the skills necessary to build young women in high school, this cam­ collective power, move a social justice cam­ paign achieved many successes, includ­ paign and build a community-based orga­ ing prompting the school district to track nization that can respond to the needs of and report sexual harassment, and prompt­ low-income communities. ing Multnomah County to pass a resolu­ Over the past two years, adult women tion to incorporate gender violence in all have been recruited into the organization violence prevention and intervention. and leadership body- primarily by girl-led Our current campaign to promote trans­ outreach efforts. Young women and girls portation equity resulted from girls com­ are now training adult members with the ing to the office frustrated by the daily task skills and information they have learned. ILLEGITIMATI AUTHORlff ,=it,,dilJ1 ~,.( ~ ""'e "67 of securing money to get to and from They draw from their experiences, their For information and grant guidelines, write school. In Portland there is no yellow bus work in the field and from the collective to: Resist, 259 Elm St., Suite 201 Somerville, MA 02144 service for many of our public schools. In vision for change they are formulating. www .resistinc.org;[email protected] fact, students have to pay to go to school. They are eager to build power and excited Resist Newsletter is published ten times a This has forced many low-income families to lead the movement. year by RESIST, Inc., ( 617)623-5110. The to have to make tough decisions like choos­ views expressed in articles, other than edi­ ing between a bus pass or a winter jacket, a Consciousness Raising-the Fire torials, are those of the authors and do not bus ticket or lunch. Youth leaders wanted Behind the Action necessarily represent the opinions of the to take action. The role of popular education as a RESIST staff or board. Recently, Sisters in Action for Power means to promote critical thinking is at the RESIST Staff: Robin Carton was able to secure a small victory-a pilot· core of our work to take action. Political Amanda Matos-Gonzalez project that would allow all students eli­ education is an integral part of grassroots Carol Schachet gible for free and reduced lunch to also leadership development as well as a criti­ receive a free bus pass to get to and from cal piece of building a movement that inte­ RESIST Volunteer: Daphne Lees school. Elisha Williams, 12, explains, "We grates consciousness raising and action. Newsletter Editor: Carol Schachet have been able to make real changes that We use role-plays, theater activities, and Printing: Red Sun Press benefit our community. There are hardly other engaging exercises to promote criti­ ~ Printed on Recycled Paper with Soy any places in Portland for girls to be lead- cal analysis. A strong political education \..1 ~ -

Page2 RESIST Newsletter May 2001 Sisters in Action for Power continued from page two young Taino girl 500 years ago. future. We are leaders right now, leading of colonialism. "Talking about colonization We are now moving from discussing the change in our community," said one young is like going into a land mine. Everything pillars of colonialism to its contemporary woman leading a community action meet­ you learn feels like an explosion. Then all manifestation-globalization and cultural ing. Intergenerational organizing focuses of a sudden you see how things have been hegemony. A popular education curricu­ on developing both young and adult and are today, not the myths and lies we lum like this example connects issues to a women's understanding of sociopolitical are told in school," writes one girl. larger political framework. Members can concepts as well as strengthening commu­ A wide variety of activities and teach­ then understand how our organizing efforts nity action skills so members work together ing methods have provided young women and other social justice struggles around to build power and ultimately a successful an entry point to understand the legacy of the world fit into a larger framework and a progressive movement. colonialism as well as a framework to un­ larger movement to bring about change. derstand oppression and violence today. Given supportive mechanisms that pro­ Amara Perez helps organize Sisters in On a world map girls color-coded coloniz­ vide information and community building Action for Power, which received a grant ing and colonized countries, they put Co­ opportunities, girls learn to harness their from RESIST in 1999. For more informa­ lumbus on trail for genocide, and wrote voices and personal power, bolstering their tion, contact Sisters in Action for Power, journal entries from the perspective of a self-esteem. "We are not the leaders of the 1732 NE Alberta, Portland, OR 97211. Appalachian Women Rising Up

MEREDITH DEAN kind of way. And we named our particular its many forms. And what we found, in just effort "the Appalachian Women's Alliance." about every community we visited, was that or generations, Appalachian women At first, we were mostly concerned with the "form" that had yet to be named was Fhave fought for their homes and fami­ creating and modeling non-hierarchical the beating, stalking, killing form. In one lies, including standing up in front of com­ methods of doing things. We spent a good community we had to lock the doors and pany thugs and lying down in front of coal put tarpaper on the windows when trucks, whatever the occasion demanded. women made t-shirts depicting ex­ But they never quite found the time periences of violence in their or occasion to fight for themselves. lives, for fear their husbands It's as if the Women's Movement ·~- would find out what they just couldn't navigate the wind- . """-= were doing. Later, ing rutted roads up the creeks ~~'• ,· Appalachian when the t-shirts were and through the hollers. Or hanging anonymously maybe didn't want to. side by side, an 11- After all, Appalachia is a dif- Women's year-old boy immedi­ ficult region to understand, or in ately pointed to one say­ which to get a foothold. Stereo­ ing confidently "that's my typical as it may sound, people do mom's." Turns out his tend to stick close to home and kin-long daddy would routinely past any real hope or possibility. And people threaten his mother with a shotgun he do tend to be suspicious of outsiders; rec­ kept under the mattress. ognizing, after years of exploitation by log­ deal of time exploring women's styles of When women held Caravan events in gers, coal operators and even well-inten­ leadership and participatory, consensus their communities, they came together in tioned missionary types, their vulnerability models of power. We also did considerable a way they had never done before. They to external interests. And people are wary work on the concept of violence against started talking about what was happening of "joining," even though the United Mine women and ways the different kinds of vio­ in their homes, things they'd been ashamed Workers is and has been one of the stron­ lence--economic, cultural, physical, spiri­ to share. Women stopped asking their hus­ gest unions in the country. tual-are and can be connected. It was then bands for permission to go to meetings, So it has not been without a great deal we decided to take our message on the started driving by themselves, and talking of struggle that women have come to be road. to other women. Some women ultimately organized in Appalachian communities. Of left abusive and controlling relationships. course, women have always been at the Caravan Takes Message Out We called that "directly confronting heart of communal activities; but it wasn't So the first Appalachian Women's Cara­ power." We called it organizing. until 1992 that at least one group of women van wound its way through the mountains For the next Caravan we chose the decided to do it in a more intentional, more in the summer of 1994, carrying our mes­ theme "Women Rising Up," as in bread ris- organized, and more explicitly, ''women's" sage to end violence against women in all continued on page four

Vol. 10, #5 RESIST Newsletter Page3 Appalachian Women Rising Up continuedfrom page three helped to orga­ ing, or revolution, depending upon one's nize a computer frame of reference. And this time what we class, a Black Her/ found was that women were, indeed, on the history dinner, and TheAppalachian Region rise. Our work was making a difference. a circle for pre­ Those who had been uncertain about even teen and teenage attending events in 1994 were the ones or­ girls to talk about ganizing them the second time around. issues of self-es­ Women had moved from barely speaking teem and self­ up, to speaking out, to organizing others to worth. speak. And Alliance members were now Fifteen-year­ speaking about racism and homophobia, old Sunale Crowe along with other forms of violence against lives .on the women. Qualia Boundary, an expanse of Coming Together Across Differences land in western In 1999, we organized the first ever anti­ North Carolina racism event in the most depressed county owned for gen­ in Virginia, despite harassment from the Ku erations by the Klux Klan. ''Now that caught my attention," Eastern Band of says Kisha Milgrim. "There you were, a the Cherokee Na­ group ofwomen not afraid to put it out there, tion. Sunale got involved with the Cl I""' 'l'-h• c,nl•r t.r 4ppoluhlt.n !IUlill .. and !,er,.i;e,. Alliance when she wrote a poem for the Appalachian Womens Journal, "To their communities. And if we're lucky, walk the sky path, you must believe in your­ women from their communities will travel self .... " Explains her foster mother, "As with us, at least to the next stop. And at we've lost our traditions, we've also lost re­ each place we'll attempt to justly convey spect for women and their sacred place the struggles and the courage of the women among our people. Girls no longer have the we've met at the previous stops. And role models they need to become healthy, slowly but surely, place by place, woman self-reliant leaders." Sunale wants to work by woman, we'll continue to cross the on teenage pregnancy and domestic vio­ physical barriers, the cultural barriers, and lence in her community. the barriers of race, class and sexual ori­ Two states away, Debbie and her part­ entation which have kept us apart. ner live in rural Kentucky. They and nine Children play at an anti-racism event in other lesbian couples, both black and This Time It's Personal Dickenson County, Virginia. Photo courtesy of Appalachian Women's Alliance white, are working to establish a support­ I recently asked one of our local orga­ ive community to sustain them through nizers, Edna Gulley, what she thought was to say it like it is." Others in the community their senior years. Many are living double different about the Alliance--why we had also took notice--they had to. For the very lives at work or with their families, and lasted. "Women in the mountains haven't first time, there was support from the local none of them have the legal rights and ben­ known how to fight for ourselves. Our fami­ United Mineworkers, local churches, the efits granted to married heterosexual lies and churches have taught us not to," local police, even the local merchants. Af­ couples, even though most are in commit­ she said. "But in the Women's Alliance, we ter attending the anti-racism event, Kisha ted long-term relationships. Debbie joined didn't give up. We kept at it. Even when joined the Women's Alliance because she the Alliance as a way to reach out to lesbi­ people closed their doors and talked about wanted "to meet other women who are ac­ ans living in isolation, and as a way to work us, we stood up for what was right, and kept tually doing something for the community" on homophobia in the mountains within a asking other women to stand with us." and she wanted to accomplish something larger, safer context. "All of my adult life "To walk the sky path, you must follow herself. I have been standing up against racism, the bright moon light . . . ." Kisha lives up a holler in a place called sexism, classism, and economic injustice, Wakenva, named after the three coal com­ but it's been too risky to stand up for my Meredith Dean is the executive director of panies it once supported. Just about every own rights as a lesbian. The Alliance is Appalachian Women s Alliance, which other African American in the county lives giving me the support I need to take the received a grant from RESIST last year. 30 miles away in one of the old company risk." For more information, contact the houses left over from the Clinch:field Coal For this next Caravan, Kisha and Sunale Appalachian Womens Alliance, PO Box era. Since becoming a member, Kisha has and Debbie will be organizing events in 688, Floyd, VA 24091.

May 2001 Page 4 RESIST Newsletter Appalachian Women Rising Up

Women had moved from barely speaking up, to speaking out, to organizing others to speak. And Alliance members were now speaking about racism and homophobia, along with other forms of violence

Women gather at a Caravan event in southwest Virginia. Photos against women. courtesy ofAppalachian Women's Alliance

Florida Feminists Demand Justice Gainesville Women~ Liberation Calls for Universal Health Care

JENNYBROWN schools and childcare centers. ings, and the Labor Day breakfast. We even As part of the education for the referen­ performed it in a bar. Among several other projects, dum, in October we co-sponsored a "Speak In November, the referendum passed Gainesville Women s Liberation engaged Out" and town meeting on insurance com­ with 65% of the vote. It got more positive in an aggressive campaign for universal panies and HMOs. People spoke publicly votes than any other measure on the bal­ health care. Below, director Jenny Brown about their struggles to get health care and lot. Since then, we've co-authored an or­ describes their work and goals. adequate medical coverage. We gave cash ganizers packet for others around the coun- _ prizes for the highest healthcare bill and try who want to launch similar referenda. What organizing has Gainesville Women's the heaviest load of insurance company (Ordering information below.) Liberation been doing with your Health paperwork. With other groups, including Florida Care for All Project? During the campaign we also wrote and NOW and the Redstockings of the Women's performed a skit all over town which we called Liberation Movement, we've established In the fall of 2000, Gainesville Women's "Where's the Care? Follow the Money." It a Women's Liberation Task Force for National Liberation worked with the Alachua County illustrates that we are spending enough Health Care to make universal health care Labor Party to place a non-binding refer­ money on health care to cover everyone, part of the agenda for women's liberation. endum on the ballot that asked voters if but it's going into the pockets of the insur­ We're inviting feminist groups to sign up. they favored universal health care without ance companies and drug companies. We private insurance companies. The campaign also make the point in the skit that the US Why is health care an issue for a group slogan was, "Together we can get the in­ is rated #3 7 in the world for health care, interested in women's liberation? surance companies and HMOs off our while France is rated #1, according to the backs." We assisted our local National Or­ United Nations. Amazingly, France spends Women frequently make up for the gaps ganization for Women (NOW) chapters in only two-thirds of what the US spends per in our inadequate health care system by developing materials directed at women to person. The skit requires crowd participa­ taking care of family members in the home, distribute at hospitals, beauty parlors, tion, and it was a big hit at churches, meet- continued on page six

Vol. 10, #5 RESIST Newsletter Page 5 Gainesville Women's Liberation continuedfrom page five How do you make the link between the mainstream parties. In Canada, it was taking care offamily members in the home, women's issues and larger social and the New Democratic Party that brought unpaid. This country offers virtually no economic justice issues? universal health insurance first to programs for the care of people who need Saskatchewan and then to all of Canada 30 day-to-day assistance. Unfairly, it is the They are naturally linked. Gainesville years ago. women of the family who end up doing Women's Liberation conducted more than We believe that one strength in this fight this work, frequently leaving or cutting a dozen consciousness-raising workshops is that it is not just a defensive battle. Pro­ back on paid work to do it, thus often be­ with a wide range of women to analyze gressive women activists are putting for­ coming dependent on husbands or fami­ our experiences. It's the only way we know ward a positive proposal for how we think lies for support. This sets us back decades. to make sure a proposal for change will society should be. As one of our volunteers On top of that, women are less likely to truly meet every woman's needs. Whether said, "We are all each other's insurance." have coverage through our jobs than men it's insurance, no insurance, Medicaid, or That's the message we want to get across. are, so we're made dependent on our workers compensation, the health care sys­ spouse's health insurance. This means we tem is expensive, aggravating, humiliating, have to weigh health care if we want to and getting worse. With insurance, the Jenny Brown directs Gainesville divorce because our health care and our prices are going through the roof. Then the Women s Liberation, which received a children's health care is through our maze of phone calls and paperwork is de­ grant from RESIST last year. For more husband's job. Talk about undermining our signed to make you give up. With Medic­ information, contact GWL at PO Box independence! Many women testify that aid you have to prove extremely low in­ 2625, Gainesville, FL, 32602. they have considered marrying their boy­ come, and even then most doctors won't friends because the guys have health in­ take you. Women reported good experi­ Resources: surance. As feminists, we know there's al­ ences with military medicine-which is To order the 125-page Universal Health ready tremendous pressure to marry; actually a socialized system-and with Care Organizers Guide from Gainesville women need to be able to make this deci­ health care in Canada and England. Women's Liberation, write us at PO Box sion as freely as possible. Knowing how we're all being affected 2625, Gainesville, FL, 32602. The packets We want free, fair and uncoerced rela­ negatively by our job-based insurance sys­ are available for $15 each. Please include tionships with the men in our lives. Our tem means we reject incremental ap­ $3 postage for the first packet and a dollar health insurance system is yet another ob­ proaches. For example, there was a bill in for each additional packet. For more infor­ stacle to this. In countries with universal Florida last year to extend Medicaid to those mation, call (352) 373-4841. health care, health care coverage is not an who are at 150% of the poverty level. Once For original source material on con­ issue in relationships. again we would have to prove we are wor­ sciousness-raising and recent material on thy of health care. And then we have to universal health care and women, visit the worry that if our income goes up we'll lose Redstockings Women's Liberation Archives our insurance. Quentin Young of Physicians for Action at www.afn.org/~redstock, or Plan to RESIST for a National Health Program leads uni­ write P.O. Box 744, Stuyvesant Station, for Social Change versal health care rallies with the chant, New York, NY 10009. "Everybody in, nobody out!" Universal cov­ For the Labor Party's Just Health Care For more than 34 years, RESIST has erage is the only system that's going to fix plan, and details on the national campaign, relied on the support ofdonors to main­ our problems as women. visit www.justhealthcare.org. The Labor tain its vital grant-giving program to We think health care is one of those is­ Party can be reached at 202-234-5190 and grassroots groups. To extend that sues that can unite big majorities, but we'll www.igc.org/lpa. support-and help radical groups need to stand firm together to win a truly Physicians for a National Health Program organize for change-you can: universal system. It may even take a politi­ (www.pnhp.org) is another fantastic re­ 1. Make a tax-deductible contribution. cal party like the Labor Party to challenge source for organizing on universal health care. 2. Join the pledge program (see p8). 3. Donate stocks or other securities. 4. Include a bequest to RESIST in GRANTS your will or life insurance policy. continuedfrom page eight A weekend of resistance was planned 5. Designate RESIST as a benefi­ Americas (FTAA) summit in Quebec. The for Buffalo because of the city's position ciary of an IRA or pension plan. goal of the FTAA is to increase on the border of two NAFTA nations and privatization and deregulation hemi­ because the city has been significantly For more information about these sphere-wide, thus furthering the damage hurt by the corporate welfare policies of and other options, contact already being experienced since NAFTA. its local government. BAN also hoped to RESIST: BAN is concerned that the failed NAFTA produce a "Stop the FTAA" newspaper 617 /623-511 O; [email protected]. model will further the neglect for human like the successful one generated for the rights, labor rights and the environment. IMF /World Bank in DC last year.

Page 6 RESIST Newsletter May 2001 DESIST has been a stalwart supporter of women s organizing RESIST relies on its supporters to help identify potential grant .1 \projects since the early "womens liberation" movement of applicants. Please ·consider which groups in your area fit with the 1970s. Particularly now, when womens full human rights are RESISTfunding priorties. Ifyou know ofsmall progressive activ­ being challenged legislatively and judicially, RESIST reaffirms ist organzations that need money, please take a moment to pro­ i(s commitment to funding radical organizing projects that work vide us with their information. Or you can direct them to RESISTs for the full economic, social and political empowerment of all website: www.resistinc.org. RESIST, 259 Elm Street, Somerville, women. Below is a partial list ofRESIST grantees. MA 02144; 617-623-5110 .. RESIST Grantees Organizing Around Women and Girls Issues

9 to 5 Colorado Mothers from Hell Women's Institute for Leadership 655 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203 PO Box 21304, Eugene, OR 97402 Development For a workplace anti-discrimination out­ For The Brimstone Bulletin and a devel­ 33 Harrison Avenue, 4th Floor, reach and education project designed to opmental disabilities awareness curricu­ Boston, MA 02111 help low-wage women understand their lum which seek to counter the abuse and Funding for multi-year general support rights and empower them to take action. harassment children with disabilities for organization which seeks to address encounter in schools. sexism and other issues of oppression Appalachian Women's Alliance within the labor movement and to build PO Box 688, Floyd, VA24091 Network for Battered Lesbians and democratic unions. To purchase new office equipment to Bisexual Women support a grassroots coalition of low­ PO Box 6011, Boston, MA 02144 Women's Voices for the Earth income and working women in Appala­ To publish The Network News/Noticias 210 N. Higgins Avenue, #206 chia who organize on local, regional and de la Red, a fully bilingual newsletter that Missoula, MT 59802 national issues is part of a larger campaign to end do­ For a project to educate workers and their mestic violence in lesbian/bisexual families about health dangers from diox­ Association for Union Democracy women's communities. ins and to link environmental and labor The Women's Project activists. 500 State Street, 2nd Floor Sisters In Action for Power Brooklyn, NY 11217 1732 NE Alberta, Portland, OR 97211 Working for Equality and Economic To strengthen and democratize unions by To develop a database and brochure for Liberation (WEEL) increasing the involvement and influence organization which build women and girls PO Box 7772, Missoula, MT, 59807 of women union members. leadership on social justice issues. For Montana Mama Jam and Womynfest, an annual fundraiser that Fuerza Onida Support Team International for includes outreach and education about 3946 S Zarzamora, San Antonio, TX 78225 Textileras (STITCH) issues related to poverty; also funding For a week long training session to de­ 4933 S. Dorchester, Chicago, IL60615 to enable welfare recipients and work­ velop skills in gender analysis and to For multi-year general support for a net­ ing poor people to attend a rally en­ strategize a campaign entitled "Winning work of US women engaged in cross­ titled "WEEL Storms Helena" protest­ Action for Gender Equity (W.A.G.E.): San border labor organizing and support for ing welfare "reform" and other attacks Antonio Women in Crisis. women workers in Central America. on low income people . ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• I I I I Know of a Progressive Group that RESIST Might be Interested in Funding

[ ] Please send them grant information at the addresses below. [ ] Please send them grant information at the addresses below. [ ] Please send me information to pass along to them. [ ] Please send me information to pass along to them.

Organization: ______Organization:

Contact Person: ______Contact Person: Address: ______Address: ______

City, State, Zip: ______City, State, Zip: ______

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Vol. JO, #5 RESIST Newsletter Page 7 GRANTS

Vermont Mobilization for dedicated to the purpose of supporting Guide, which has alleviated some of the Global Justice organized resistance to the institutions problems posed by CPCs. POBox604 and practices that rob people of their Connecticut NARAL will use BurlingtonVT 05402 dignity as full human beings ... (giving) a RESIST's grant of $2,000 to investigate high priority to the efforts of Native the anti-abortion practices of the Crisis Vermont Mobilization for Global Justice American peoples to resist cultural as Pregnancy Centers in Connecticut and grew out of ongoing coalition work by well as actual genocide." include the information in the abortion many of the groups involved in protests Formed by a group of 13 students in service guide, as well as distribute the against the Free Trade Area of the Ameri­ 1996, the organization works towards guide independently. cas (FTAA). The group includes more educational, cultural and social develop­ than 15 progressive groups that coordi- . ment for Latino youth to help them take a Comite Exijimos Justicia nated activities on the Vermont side of proactive leadership role in the commu­ PO Box 7781 the US-Canadian border during the April nity. Members work to uproot racist Chicago, IL 60680 summit of the FTAAmeeting in Quebec. stereotypes and discrimination and act as The summit attracted a large number advocates for social change. The Comite Exijimos Justicia (We Demand of activists, particularly from the US. Justice Committee) was formed in 1999 as Actions were planned around the Connecticut NARAL a support group for families whose loved message of opposition to "Free Trade" Foundation ones were wrongly convicted of crimes that opens borders to corporations while 135 Broad Street or were victims of police brutality. After shutting them down to people. Hartford, CT 06105 hearing the stories of more than 20 fami­ A grant of$3,000 was given to rent www.Javanet.com/-ctnaral lies, members identified a pattern of po­ space for a convergence center to support lice misconduct and frame-ups by the activists involved in the protests. CT NARAL became increasingly con­ Chicago Police Department. The support cerned over the last 12 months about a group evolved into a group that de­ Latinos Unidos Siempre dramatic increase in the misleading adver­ manded justice. Members created a data­ 3248 Market Street NE tising for Crisis Pregnancy Centers. base of specific officers who were ha­ Salem, OR97301 These centers fail to provide the full bitual offenders. Meetings with police range of options that are available to and state officials to demand an investi­ Latinos Unidos Siempre received a $3000 women who find themselves with an gation were backed up by public grant from the Freda Friedman Salzman unwanted pregnancy. CT NARAL has marches. The first major victory occurred Memorial Fund at RESfST, which "is produced an excellent Abortion Services when the wrongful murder conviction of •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Angel Rodriguez , who had been sen­ • tenced to 60 years, was reversed . Join the Resist Pledge Program RESIST awarded CEJ $3,000 to • We'd like you to consider Yes/ I'll become a • purchase office equipment. This grant becoming a Resist Pledge. RESIST Pledge. • was given in tribute to Mike Riegle, a • supporter of prisoners' rights, gay and I'll send you my pledge of$__ Pledges account for over • lesbian liberation and the radical move­ every month/two months/ 30% of our income. quarter/six months (circle one). • ment for social justice, who died of • complications due to AIDS in 1992 . By becoming a pledge, you help • guarantee Resist a fixed and dependable [ ] Enclosed is an initial pledge • contribution of $__ _ • source of income on which we can build • Buffalo Activist Network our grant-making program. In return, [ ] I can't join the pledge program • 51 Elmwood Avenue, Apt B we will send you a monthly pledge now, but here's a contribution of Buffalo, NY 14201 letter and reminder along with your $_ _;___ to support your work. Buffaloactivist @yahoo.com newsletter. We will keep you up-to- date on the groups we have funded and Name ______• the other work being done at Resist. Address ______The Buffalo Activist Network received a • grant of $2,000 from RESIST in order to • So take the plunge and become a Resist City/State/Zip ______• Pledge! We count on you, and the organize rallies against the expansion of • groups we fund count on us. Phone ______NAFTA's model into central and south­ • ern America, which was expected to be : Donation•-to Resist are ta -deductible. proposed at the Free Trade Area of the • Resist • 259 Elm Street • Suite 201 • Somerville • MA • 02144 • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• continued on page six Page8 RESIST Newsletter May 2001