Category: Women’s Liberation

Minneapolis, MN – Trade unionists, students, anti war and low income activists came together here, March 8, for a spirited celebration of International Women’ s Day. The event, “Women’s Liberation from the U.S. to Palestine,” was organized by Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO).

Held annually in the Twin Cities, this year’s International Women’s Day celebration emphasized the case of Chicago Palestinian leader Rasmea Odeh, who is facing prison and deportation on trumped-up immigration charges.

Jess Sundin’s speech

Jess Sundin, of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, gave the opening speech on the oppression of women and the need for liberation, the fight against political repression and the need for revolution and socialism.

Sundin began by telling the crowd about the history of International Women’s Day, stating, “This day came from the struggle of working women right here in the U.S. In 1908, women garment workers in New York City came together to demand a strong union for themselves and the right to vote for all women. They went on strike for 13 cold winter weeks and in the end they won. Inspired by them, German revolutionary Clara Zetkin proposed that March 8 be celebrated around the world as International Women’s Day.”

Sundin concluded by saying socialism “engages people in transforming society to meet all of our needs. The riches of a socialist society are used for the benefit of all. Socialism is based on internationalism, rather than criminalizing freedom fighters and international solidarity. Under socialism, our government would be dedicated to ensuring equality, rather than allowing some to profit, while others go hungry. These are values that would make it possible for women to throw off the chains of oppression, to win our own liberation. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, let us rededicate ourselves to a life of struggle. Let us commit to build movements where women lead. And let us march together towards revolution.”

From U.S. to Palestine

Hatem Abudayyeh, a leader in Chicago’s Palestinian community, spoke via Skype on the case of Rasmea Odeh. Abudayyeh told of the many contributions that Odeh had made to the fight to free Palestine and to end the oppression of women. Stating that Odeh’s case is linked to the repression directed against Palestine and international solidarity activists, he expressed confidence that everyone at the Twin Cities event would be part of the struggle to get the charges against Rasmea Odeh dropped.

Misty Rowan, of the Twin Cites-based Anti-War Committee, spoke about the role that strong women leaders play in the anti-war movement and the push back against FBI repression. The Anti-War Committee and Freedom Road Socialist Organization were the targets of FBI raids in September 2010.

Steff Yorek read a message from Cherrene Horazuk, the president of AFSCME Local 3800, noting the fight of women workers past and present.

The event concluded with a speech by Angel Buechner of the Welfare Rights Committee, who demanded that state government raise the welfare grants.

March 8, International Women’s Day, is a day of celebration and resistance. It is a day to hail the past victories over oppression and inequality, to prepare for the challenges of the future in the fight for complete liberation and to reaffirm the basic principle, “The stronger the role of women in all progressive movements, the stronger our movements will be.”

International Women’s Day was created by the struggle of working women right here in the U.S. On March 8, 1908 a powerful protest of women garment workers took place in New York City. They went on strike for 13 cold winter weeks and in the end they won. Inspired by this struggle, the outstanding German revolutionary Clara Zetkin proposed at a gathering of socialist women that March 8 be celebrated as International Women’s Day. This year International Women’s Day events will be held across the globe, in the socialist counties like Cuba and Vietnam and in the countries oppressed by imperialism like Palestine and the Philippines. It will be celebrated here in the U.S. as well.

We urge all progressive people to organize events to mark International Women’s Day. As a part of these events we urge you to speak out in support of Palestinian American leader Rasmea Odeh, and demand that the outrageous charges against her be dropped. As a part of the repression that the U.S. government has unleashed against Palestinian and Palestine solidarity activists, the Justice Department is trying to jail, and then deport, this heroic sister.

Rasmea Odeh is the Associate Director of the Arab American Action Network and won the “Outstanding Community Leader Award” from the Chicago Cultural Alliance in 2013 for her work with the Arab Women’s Committee and other groups. She overcame vicious torture by Israeli military authorities while imprisoned in Palestine in the 1970s,. She is familiar to millions of Palestinians who have not given up organizing for their rights of liberation, equality and return.

On International Women’s Day we need stand with women like Rasmea Odeh. They are an example to all of us.

As we approach International Women’s Day in 2014, we understand that the system we live under is waging a war on women. There is no equal pay for equal work. There is an epidemic of violence against us. We need full reproductive rights, better health care and a social safety net that ensures our families are taken care of. There are many obstacles to our complete liberation that must be cleared away.

In China it is said that “women hold up half the sky.” We know that women have made great contributions to the struggle to end all oppression. Harriet Tubman stood up to slavery and lead the oppressed to freedom. U.S. working class leader Elizabeth Gurley Flynn stood up to capitalism and demanded it be replaces by socialism. And so many more will do so much more. The future is bright!

Long Live International Women’s Day!