GABRIELA USA

Vote Gabriela Women’s Party #54 & Teddy Casino on May 13th Philippine Elections!

lainerz — Mon, 13 May 2013 05:30:15 +0000

GABRIELA-USA Stands in Solidarity with Assata Shakur

lainerz — Sat, 11 May 2013 02:57:12 +0000

For Immediate release
May 10, 2013
Reference: Valerie Francisco, Chairperson, GABRIELA-USA, gabrielawomen@gmail.com

WE STAND WITH ASSATA

GABRIELA-USA Stands in Solidarity with Assata Shakur

(image by Dignidad Rebelde www.dignidadrebelde.com)

Assata Shakur, who was born Joanne Chesimard and was a former member of the Black Panther Party, was recently placed on the FBI’s most wanted terrorist list as the first woman and second domestic “terrorist” on the list. Shakur currently lives in exile as a political asylum in Cuba since 1979 after she escaped (or liberated) from jail. Shakur was convicted of killing a New Jersey police officer in 1973 at the height of her participation in revolutionary, socialist organizing in and through the US Black Power movement. Shakur’s wrongful arrest and conviction was clearly motivated by the government’s will to destroy the Black revolutionary movement as the case developed without clear evidence of her guilt. In the throes of US-backed, anti-people and anti-democractic programs like COINTELPRO, Assata Shakur was one of many victims of US imperialist aggression in its home turf.

The FBI’s recent move to make Assata Shakur visible again works to delegitimize her and the activism she has contributed to. It seeks to rewrite the history of Black revolutionary activism in the US as domestic “terrorism.” Where evidence fails to prove Shakur’s culpability in the alleged crime of killing a New Jersey police officer, the rebranding of her act as terrorism sends a clear message that police departments in the US are immune from punishment even if they themselves are sources of hate, racism and oppression. As the FBI codifies Black revolutionary activism as domestic “terrorism” by targeting Shakur, the agency is making a point that Black revolutionary movement building in the US in the present can also be treated as “terrorism.” This abhorrent move seeks to equate Black revolutionary spirit with the war on terrorism.

GABRIELA-USA condemns Shakur’s placement on this list of “terrorists” because we challenge the US imperial power that arbitrarily defines who is labeled a “terrorist.” This mislabeling seeks to undermine and delegitimize the claims Shakur makes about the racist violence the US government perpetrates upon the people of color in the US. And in those terms, will anyone who then challenges and critiques US government policy be labeled a “terrorist?” Will every person that stands up against institutionalized inequality be labeled a “terrorist?”

The normalization of the logics of “terrorism” is becoming a US imperialist witch-hunt with Assata Shakur at the top of the list. GABRIELA-USA stands with Assata Shakur in this time of criminalization. We, alongside many organizations and groups, maintain her innocence in this politically motivated woman-hunt. GABRIELA-USA applauds Assata Shakur’s legacy of internationalism and we will remain vigilant about the developments in this case.

Assata Shakur was and continues to be a revolutionary that identifies the destructive nature of political repression, racism, and violence embedded in US politics. She is a symbol of revolutionary activism in which young people from marginalized communities can draw inspiration and strength from; her resilience and revolutionary aptitude against the superpower of the world, US imperialism, must give us all hope to bring imperialism to its knees. She has continually criticized the US government for their failings and violence towards people of color in the US. And more importantly, Shakur reminds all of us that the only thing we have to lose is our chains. We must continue building across class, racial and ethnic, sexuality and gender lines in the US and globally as we continue to feel the brunt of imperialist violence and aggression from our urban neighborhoods, our schools to our homelands.

Hands Off Assata!
Free All Political Prisoners!

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U.S. Filipinas Demand Genuine Comprehensive Immigration Reform and Support Migrant Workers Struggles on Mayo Uno

lainerz — Wed, 01 May 2013 04:14:07 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 1, 2013

Reference: Valerie Francisco, Chairperson, GABRIELA-USA, gabrielawomen@gmail.com

U.S. Filipinas Demand Genuine Comprehensive Immigration Reform and

Support Migrant Workers Struggles on Mayo Uno

On May 1st, GABRIELA-USA members in cities across the United States will march in the streets to uphold worker and migrant rights on International Workers’ Day. Filipino women are part of the large percentage of migrants arriving in the U.S. forced to leave their countries in Asia, Latin America, Africa and parts of Europe to work elsewhere as they sustain their families back home. “Historically and up to present, the reasons why many migrants come to the United States is because of U.S. imperialist policies that force people out of their own countries in the first place,” stated GABRIELA-USA spokesperson Raquel Redondiez. “As migrants arrive to the U.S. shores immigration policies, perpetuate the exploitation of migrants and work against migrants to illegalize them. The U.S. government benefits from using migrants as cheap labor, while threatening migrant communities with punitive laws and deportation. Migrants have the right to protections, dignity and justice for themselves and their families,” continued Redondiez.

The group of Senators, known as the Gang of 8, who recently filed Senate bill named “The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act,” propose significant changes to the U.S. immigration system. Key amongst the proposed changes includes cutting out some categories of family based visas, particularly eliminating the possibility for U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents to petition their siblings and married children over 31 years old to immigrate to the U.S.

GABRIELA-USA criticizes this bill as it falls short of the supposed immigration reform that it promises because it fails in its narrow definition of family. “Countless families are torn apart everyday, and now we are rallying community members to mobilize and call for re-unification for all families, including parents, children, siblings, cousins, grandparents, and LGBTIQ families,” stated Tina Shauf, GABRIELA-USA Vice Chair of Campaigns. Regardless of the type of familial relation or the sexual orientation or gender identity of partners and their families, GABRIELA-USA demands a more inclusive and expansive classification of “family” so that immigration policies do not break up families and keep them separated indefinitely.

Furthermore, over 400,000 undocumented migrants have been deported every year during the Obama administration. “We must not continue to divert attention from a broken immigration system and an exploitative imperialist system by criminalizing im/migrants. We say no to deportations and demand pathways to legalization for migrants, ” stated Shauf.

In addition to the proposed immigration bill, GABRIELA-USA will also support Assembly Bill 241, more commonly known as the California Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. “Migrant workers often find themselves exploited on the job, experiencing wage theft and unfair working conditions, and we demand an end to this injustice to the hard work and sacrifices they make for their families and this country,” said Valerie Francisco, national chairperson of GABRIELA-USA. A.B. 241 asks for overtime pay, meal and rest breaks and adequate sleeping conditions for live in workers. GABRIELA-USA continues in its campaign for the full recognition of domestic workers and for basic protections on the job that many other workers already have rights to under the law.

GABRIELA-USA will mobilize on May 1st to launch a campaign demanding workers rights and justice for Filipina migrants and their families throughout the United States and other countries. Join us as we march alongside other ethnic communities who seek a better life!

Uphold and Defend Workers Rights for Filipina Migrants!

Stop Imperialist Exploitation & Modern Day Slavery of Migrant Workers!

Stop Criminalization of Im/migrants! Pathways to Legalization for All Migrant Workers!

Keep all our Families together! No to Deportation!

March with GABRIELA-USA at the May 1st mobilization near you!

Los Angeles, CA

Southern California Immigration Coalition May Day March

4pm @ Olympic Blvd and Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles

New York, NY

May 1st Coalition Action

12pm rally in Union Square

Meet @ Southeast Corner of the Park

5:30pm March

San Francisco, CA

2pm @ 24 & Mission st March to Civic Center

Seattle, WA

Rally with Faith and Community Leaders

1pm @ Judkins Park

API United and Youth Contingent

2:00PM @ 20th Ave. S and S. Jackson St.

3pm @ Downtown Seattle May 1st Rally

March to Jackson Federal Building (915 2nd Avenue Seattle, WA 98174)

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Filipina Women Support and Demand More Than Marriage Equality

lainerz — Wed, 01 May 2013 04:06:50 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 30, 2013

Reference: Valerie Francisco, Chairperson, GABRIELA-USA, gabrielawomen@gmail.com

The recent debate over marriage equality in the last week has taken center stage as the Supreme Court heard arguments on the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8 and the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). While GABRIELA-USA is fully supportive of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender people and Queers having the right to marry, there is more to the issue than just marriage equality that must be addressed. “We see it as a positive step forward, towards a much needed, more comprehensive fight for true LGBTQ equality, which should include immigration reform, health care, affordable housing, employment, social services, and addressing various forms of violence and discrimination,” says Irma Bajar, Vice-Chair of International Relations of GABRIELA-USA.

DOMA, passed in 1996, is a federal law that defines marriage as a union between a man and woman and restricts same sex couples from receiving federal benefits. This discriminatory definition is applied to over 1100 federal laws and programs. Hollingsworth vs. Perry was the 2008 case brought before the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to declare Prop 8 in the state of California unconstitutional. Several state and federal cases followed suit to challenge the Prop 8 amendment, and after several appeals, was finally granted a rehearing.

The debates raised some essential questions on marriage equality: whether to make it legal in all 50 states for same-sex couples to marry and be granted federal benefits that opposite-sex married couples currently enjoy, or if the states should have the power to honor their own laws around same-sex marriage over federal law regarding marriage equality.

Despite the fact that sexual identity ranks as the third-highest motivator for hate crime incidents (17 percent of total attacks), over the last year, LGBTQ people along with immigrant women and Native Americans were in line to be on the chopping block for whether they would be protected by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). “GABRIELA-USA believes that protection against violence is a basic human right and should not be debated on whether a group of people should have it or not. Everyone should have the right to be protected against violence,” says Valerie Francisco, Chairperson of GABRIELA-USA.

According to a 2011 FBI report, of the 6,222 reported hate crimes, 6,216 were single-bias incidents and 20.8% resulted from sexual orientation bias, the second highest next to racial bias at 46.9%.

Given that a great majority of GABRIELA-USA’s membership identifies as LGBTQ, we are pushing for a closer look at the most basic needs that should be addressed when talking about equality. “We are hopeful in advancing a people’s movement that demands comprehensive solutions, with marriage equality being just one aspect of equality for the LGBTQ population. We understand that the oppression of LGBTQ people is perpetuated by the same global imperialist system depriving basic rights and needs to other marginalized people, and we encourage our community as well as other marginalized communities to address the main problems that continue to oppress the most economically and violently exploited in our society, which largely includes LGBTQ people,” says Raquel Redondiez, Spokesperson of GABRIELA-USA.

###

Immigrant Working Women Take to the Streets to Fight Against Imperialist Exploitation

lainerz — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:56:52 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 8, 2013
Reference: Valerie Francisco, Chairperson, GABRIELA-USA, gabrielawomen@gmail.com

Immigrant Working Women Take to the Streets to Fight Against Imperialist Exploitation

On March 8th, International Working Women’s Day, GABRIELA USA will join with multi-ethnic women and from im/migrant and working class communities across the US to demand an end to the suffering and violence afflicting Filipina women and children amidst heightening contradictions of a global imperialist system. From coast to coast, member organizations from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York and Washington D.C. will take their demands to the streets and call for living wage jobs, access to health care and education, protections from violence against migrant communities and as basic human rights.

After two years under the Aquino administration, conditions for the Filipino people continue to worsen. Neoliberal policies of both the US-Obama administration and the Philippine-Aquino administration aggravates conditions for Filipino women. The Philippines has a staggering 10.5% unemployment rate (IBON Foundation, 2013), while women make up the largest portion of government-tallied unemployed citizens in the Philippines.

Under Aquino’s Oplan Bayanihan program, which seeks to suppress the people’s resistance to intensifying poverty, an increasing number of women and children are becoming victims of severe human rights violations. In 2012 alone, there have been 7 reported cases of rape of women and children by military personnel, attempted murder, kidnapping, enforced disappearances, political killings and other violations of the rights against women and children.

Barug Katawhan leader and typhoon Pablo survivor, Cristina Morales Jose was gunned down by an unidentified motorcycle riding assassin in Baganga, Davao Oriental on March 4 around 6pm, just 4 days into Women’s History month. Cristina Morales Jose earlier exposed the food blockade and militarization of relief operations conducted by 67th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, under the U.S.-backed Aquino administration. They were found hoarding supplies for typhoon survivors. If it were not for the large-scale logging and mining being done by multi-national corporations in the first place, Typhoon Pablo victims would not have experienced the level of devastation it reached. This neglect by the government before and after the typhoon is deplorable. GABRIELA USA is appalled at the continued attacks by the Aquino regime continuing in the legacy of his predecessors, who have done nothing but capitulate to US imperialist interests and multinational corporations at the expense of the rights and livelihood of the Filipino people.

Worsening poverty has forced the migration of Filipinas to work overseas and often find themselves working jobs where they are vulnerable to violence and exploitation. In the US, government policies and free trade laws, like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the soon-to-be Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), fail to protect Filipino overseas workers. Many Filipina migrant workers in the US, such as domestic helpers, caregivers and airport workers, are subjugated to low-wage contract work often without health benefits, worker protections, living wages or become victim to illegal labor practices and human trafficking.

Like Filipinos, Latinos also experience similar patterns of forced migration. Just last February 14, the day that women and communities joined the One Billion Rising campaign to end violence against women by dancing in the streets, a 66-year-old mother and Latina ally of Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA) in San Francisco was detained for speaking out against deportations at a Senate hearing on immigration reform where no Latino immigrant was given a chance to speak.

“This situation is a reminder that the struggles and root causes perpetuated by U.S. imperialist policies has forced migrants out of their own countries and have contributed greatly to the U.S. economy, yet are still treated as though they are criminal and less than human. We must put an end to this kind of economic violence afflicting our immigrant communities,” states Valerie Francisco, GABRIELA-USA Chairperson. Furthermore, despite the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) which gives protections to survivors of domestic violence, it is still short of providing protections for immigrant and undocumented women.

As low-income and migrant women are facing a backlash of budget cuts geared towards health care and services to victims of domestic violence, it is clear now more than ever that both the U.S. and Philippine governments are failing to protect the safety and well-being of Filipinas and their families. GABRIELA-USA calls on Filipinas and allies everywhere to join the struggle to stop the economic violence of Filipina women and children perpetuated by U.S. imperialism. We must continue to fight for more living-wage jobs and quality healthcare for families in the Philippines and abroad. We must address cuts to education, healthcare, and social services that support our families through these worsening economic times. We must be steadfast in demanding justice for all victims of state-sponsored violence and resist U.S. military intervention and Aquino’s puppetry.

Stop the imperialist exploitation and oppression of women and children!
No to U.S. Military occupation over our land and our bodies!

In celebration of International Working Women’s Day, please join GABRIELA-USA at any of the following actions:

Los Angeles:
Bangon, Sulong Kababaihan!
Songs, Poems, and Dances of Courage, Inspiration and Hope
Wednesday, March 6, from 7-9 p.m.
Echo Park United Methodist Church
1226 N Alvarado St.
Los Angeles, CA 90026-3127

Rally organized by Women Organized to Resist and Defend (WORD)
Saturday, March 9 at 1 p.m.
Gather at Hollywood and Vine

San Francisco:
Women Speak Out for Justice Mobilization
Friday, March 8 at 5 p.m.
SF Federal Building on Mission St. and 7th St.

Celebrating Women’s Resistance and Strength Cultural Solidarity Night
Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m.
Bayanihan Community Center
1010 Mission St. at 6th St.

Seattle:
API Chaya Annual Candlelight Vigil
Thursday, March 7 at 4-6 p.m.
King County Courthouse
516 3rd Ave.

Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA) 17th Annual International Women’s Day Celebration
Friday, March 8 at 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
ReWA Main Office
4008 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S.

Women Who Rock Conference and Film Festival
Saturday, March 9 at 12 p.m. – midnight
Washington Hall
153 14th Ave.

New York:
Speak Out & Vigil on the theme “Every issue is a woman’s issue” at the Triangle Shirtwaist Memorial, where in 1911 women workers died in a factory fire.
Saturday, March 9 at 11:30 a.m. in Manhattan
23-29 Washington Place

1 p.m. March & Rally — our contingent will join a rally called by Women Organized to Resist and Defend (WORD) in Washington Square Park

Washington DC:
March 9, Saturday 12-2pm
Washington DC International Women’s Day Rally & Speak-Out
Tivoli Square at 14th St NW between Park and Monroe
Sponsored by Women Organized to Resist and Defend (WORD)

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GABRIELA-USA and Allies Rise Together to Fight Violence Against Women

lainerz — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 22:16:03 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 8, 2013
Reference: Valerie Francisco, Chairperson, GABRIELA-USA, gabrielawomen@gmail.com

GABRIELA-USA and Allies Rise Together to Fight Violence Against Women

On February 14th, 2013, GABRIELA-USA will join One Billion Rising, a global campaign that is projected to be one of the largest protest actions calling for an end to violence against women. Creator of the Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler, developed the campaign in response to the more than 1 billion women who have survived some form of violence in her lifetime. GABRIELA-USA, along with partner organizations and individuals, will join in these protest actions on VDAY, February 14, in cities across the U.S. including Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, New York City and Washington DC, and are calling all Filipinos and solidarity allies to join in the action to strike, dance and rise!

The recent controversy around the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) highlights the need for a global movement to fight violence against women. Since its enactment in 1994, the VAWA has provided increased protections for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault, and stalking in the United States. The VAWA has also provided billions of dollars in support of the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women, as well as community grants and programs to help survivors. Up for reauthorization in 2012, the bill was met with resistance from Republicans when sponsors attempted to extend federal protections to 30 million more women by including undocumented immigrants, members of the LGBTQ community, and Native Americans. Amidst debates, the proposed provision to increase “U Visas” which are granted to protect certain undocumented immigrant victims while prosecuting perpetrators, was dropped. The VAWA recently passed with 85 votes in the Senate and is currently awaiting a final vote in Congress.

“The reauthorization of the VAWA is a positive step forward for the protection of survivors of violence,” says Valerie Francisco, Chairperson of GABRIELA-USA. “Protection from violence should be a basic human right, and not a privilege awarded to a few! This country has historically marginalized immigrant, LGBTQ, and Native American communities, and while politicians continue to play political games with the VAWA, it is the lives of these women that continue to be at risk every day.”

The fight to end violence against women must go beyond protecting survivors by addressing the root issues that women face. Communities must organize around our basic needs, including the reasons why women are robbed of a livelihood and are forced to migrate, why LGBTQ individuals face discrimination, and why Native American communities must continually exert their right to self-determination and self-governance. The fight to end violence against women is a fight against an imperialist system that inherently imposes violence on women.

On February 14, join GABRIELA-USA in major activities across the country in a global dance-protest to raise awareness on issues such as the VAWA, forced migration, and economic justice.

REAUTHORIZE VAWA NOW!
PROTECTION FROM VIOLENCE IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT!
WOMEN OF THE WORLD UNITE! FIGHT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN!

Seattle, Washington
Feb. 14: Seattle One Billion Rising Event (4-7pm)

Downtown Seattle Westlake Center Square 4-7pm.

Feb. 16: iVOW Community Workshop (2-4pm)

2100 24th Avenue South, Seattle – Building Board Room

Melanin Queer/Womyn of Color Dance Party (8pm-12am)

Black Coffee Co-op – 501 E. Pine St. Seattle

San Francsico, California
Feb. 14: Flash Mob (3pm)
Meet at Union Square, downtown San Francisco
March to Powell and Market

March to City Hall to join San Francisco One Billion Rising Event (4pm-5pm)

1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco

One Billion Rising Official After Party (6pm-2am)

El Rio Bar – 3158 Mission St. San Francisco (Corner of Cesar Chavez and Valencia)

Los Angeles, California
Feb. 14: Los Angeles One Billion Rising Event (12pm-1pm)

Downtown Los Angeles – 7th and Figueroa

San Diego, California
Feb 15: City-wide walk out (2:14pm)

(4:30pm) March from Second Avenue, up Broadway, across on 5th Avenue and back down to the Civic Center on B Street

(6:30pm) One Billion Rising San Diego

Gather in Balboa Park at the Organ Pavillion, San Diego CA

Washington D.C.
Feb. 14: Washington DC One Billion Rising Event (12pm-2pm)

Farragut Square, Downtown Washington, DC.

New York, New York
Feb 9: POC Rising Kick Off

WoW Café Theatre – 59-61 E 4th St. New York

www.pocrising.tumblr.com (week of events)

Feb 14: Manhattan One Billion Rising Event

Hammerstein Ballroom – 311 W 34th St. New York

Feb 16: Azucar Uptown POC Rising Closing Party (11pm-4am)

The Underground – 955 W End Ave. New York

***

GABRIELA USA wishes you a happy and militant new year!

lainerz — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:31:21 +0000

*Please forward widely*

You came to our events.

You went to our educational discussions.

You marched with us in the streets.

You sang, laughed, hung out, ate out and chilled with us.

For this, GABRIELA USA is so thankful for you, your support and your presence in our ever-growing community. Members from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC and New York City applaud you!

Look at what you contributed to: GABRIELA USA 2012 Year In Review

In 2013, GABRIELA USA has a lot of great things planned:

On February 14, we will dance with women globally in “1 Billion Rising” to end violence against women
On March 8, we will be celebrating International Women’s Day in all of these cities

Stay tuned!

If you’ve got extra in your holiday budget, consider giving the gift that keeps on giving, a donation to GABRIELA USA!

Yours, in militant struggle and movement building,

GABRIELA USA

Filipina Women Ramp Up Relief Efforts to Help Kababayans Stateside and in the Philippines

lainerz — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 20:54:48 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 21, 2012
Reference: Valerie Francisco, Chairperson, GABRIELA-USA, gabrielawomen@gmail.com

Filipina Women Ramp Up Relief Efforts to Help Kababayans Stateside and in the Philippines

The women of GABRIELA-USA, a national Filipino women’s alliance consisting of organizations across the United States, have been ramping up relief efforts again for Typhoon Pablo (International name: Bopha), at a time when Kababayans (fellow Filipinos) also need help to recover from calamities hitting the Northeastern United States from Hurricane Sandy. Recent news since Typhoon Pablo ravaged communities in Mindanao reports more than 1,000 persons dead, 900 missing and 500,000 displaced and more than 5 million affected. 114,000 residential homes are damaged and 43,000 homes were completely wiped out. “We are not just answering a call to help Kababayans in the aftermath of a major natural disaster, we are also demanding justice for them. We understand that the level of devastation reaching the indigenous communities in Mindanao are far worse because of large-scale multi-national corporate mining and logging,” says Raquel Redondiez, Spokesperson of GABRIELA-USA.

The Mining Act of 1995 takes away rights from indigenous people to their own ancestral lands, leaving them no choice but to fight for their basic rights and livelihood. Typhoons do not typically hit Mindanao as hard as Typhoon Pablo did, but due to large-scale mining and logging, the growing storm charged through from Northern Philippines with no natural terrain to break down its enormity. “Indigenous people have been organizing against large-scale mining negatively affecting their water, food sources and essentially the overall livelihood of their communities. Consequently, they are being criminalized and targeted for human rights violations by the Philippine government, which is protecting multi-national corporate interests instead of the rights of Filipinos in their own land,” says Valerie Francisco, Chairperson of GABRIELA-USA.

With Hurricane Sandy hitting the Northeastern part of the United States, the GABRIELA-USA women in New York City have actively organized and participated in Operation Kaligtasan (O.K.), an emergency effort that aims to serve as a quick response team in times of calamity, responding to the Filipino community at-large. “While participating in O.K., we’ve found that the Philippine government, the City, State and Federal government’s response was minimal and have been inefficiently and slowly addressing the immediate economic and employment needs of the people affected within the medical field,” said GABRIELA-USA Vice Chair of International Relations, Irma Bajar. O.K volunteers surveyed residents in the Brighton Beach area in Brooklyn and results indicated that more than 40 Filipino nurses from Coney Island Hospital have been out of work for weeks and were forced to take their leave and vacations due to the hospital closing and over 150 Filipino health workers from Shore View Nursing Home are out of work indefinitely. “Despite the fact that 4,500 Filipinos leave the Philippines everyday and the largest concentration of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) migrate to the United States, the Philippine government has never established a system to protect their rights and welfare,” said Bajar.

GABRIELA-USA understands the importance of responding to the needs, rights and welfare of Filipinos no matter where they are, stateside, back in our homeland, or anywhere else Filipinos have migrated.

If you are in New York City or New Jersey and are interested in being involved or supporting Operation Kaligtasan you can email operation.kaligtasan@gmail.com or call 347.709.9391.

GABRIELA-USA is reaching out to the community to support relief efforts that National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) has put forth. Donations can be made through PayPal at http://tinyurl.com/nafconrelief3 or by sending checks to “Tulong Sa Bayan (TSB)” at 519 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013. TSB has been NAFCON’s established partner in coursing relief donations to the Philippines. On memo please write: NAFCON Bayanihan Relief and your city of residence. Please include return address with donations.

For more information on regional collection centers, fundraising and relief activities in your area, please contact NAFCON regional coordinators nearest you or go to our website.

Northeast: Michelle Saulon ne@nafconusa.org (347) 867 – 1550
Midwest: Lorena Buni mw@nafconusa.org (224) 678 – 1897
Norcal: Ryan Leano nc@nafconusa.org (626) 534 – 4971
Socal: Alex Montances sc@nafconusa.org (253) 381 – 7444
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GABRIELA-USA Commemorates November 25th, the International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women

lainerz — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 19:44:05 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 25, 2012

Reference: Valerie Francisco, Chairperson, GABRIELA-USA
Email: chair@gabusa.org

GABRIELA-USA Commemorates November 25th, the International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women

GABRIELA-USA, an alliance of organizations representing Filipino women across the U.S. commemorate November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW) by denouncing the attacks on Gaza by Israel that continues to kill women and children, and opposing the ongoing human rights violations and killings of our women in the Philippines.

GABRIELA-USA stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people to demand Israel to stop this ongoing massacre on the people of Gaza and to end the U.S.-backed occupations of both Gaza and the West Bank. For absolute peace, the U.S. must not interfere and keep out of the affairs of the Palestinian people and the Israeli state must give up its murderous Zionist path and respect the human rights and sovereignty of the Palestinian people.

During this time of a global economic crisis caused by U.S. imperialism, multi-national corporations are vultures competing for and hoarding natural resources throughout the globe, imposing their power through militarization. Air strikes and massacres happening thousands of miles apart between Gaza and Mindanao yet have something in common: U.S. military power and funding for the corrupt puppet regime of the Philippines and the U.S.’s closest ally in the middle east and #1 recipient of U.S. military aid, Israel; in turn, victimizing people all over the world in order to protect the interests of the global 1%.

GABRIELA-USA continues to support ManiLakbayan, a caravan and march that aims to raise the national consciousness around the deteriorating human rights situation in relation to large-scale mining, thus far raising over $1,100 in the last 2 weeks to help community delegates from Mindanao to launch this campaign in Manila. The October 18 massacre in the Philippines of two-months pregnant Juvy Capion and her young sons, Jorge and Janjan, aged 13 and 8 reflects the reality of daily violence faced by the B’laan tribe and other indigenous peoples throughout the Philippines for actively opposing large scale mining by foreign multinational corporations encroaching on ancestral lands. GABRIELA-USA condemns the killings of indigenous leaders and anti-mining activists in Mindanao, and we are continuing to reach out to our communities in the U.S. to support efforts in raising awareness of the recent events in Mindanao. GABRIELA-USA acknowledges that the system massacring women and children in Gaza is the same brutal system victimizing Filipina women globally.

“As Filipino women we hold people like President Benigno Aquino III and President Barrack Obama accountable for the culture and system of violence they perpetrate on women around the world. Hunger and poverty, joblessness and exploitation, evictions, forced migration, lack of housing and healthcare are all part of imperialist plunder and war on women and children” said Valerie Francisco, Chairperson for GABRIELA-USA, “We must rise up and fight for our basic human rights and demand to end violence against women.”

As these current atrocities continue to happen to our women, we are launching a petition letter to demand action from the Philippine government to stop these heinous acts of violence and stop the use of rape as a tool of war against the people. We call upon women across the globe to help us in our fight to end violence against women.

GABRIELA-USA supports people’s right to fight for their own self-determination against aggressive exploitation and oppression. From the U.S. to Palestine to the Philippines, on this day, we honor and support the fighting spirit of women throughout the world against violence towards women and children.

Women’s activists have marked November 25 as a day to fight violence against women since 1981. On December 17, 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women by Resolution 54/134. The date came from the brutal assassination in 1960 of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo.

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GABRIELA-USA Mounts Support for ManiLakbayan & Calls for Donations

lainerz — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 04:26:49 +0000

For Immediate Release
November 11, 2012
Contact: Valerie Francisco, Chairperson, gabrielawomen@gmail.com

GABRIELA-USA Mounts Support for ManiLakbayan

News has spread worldwide about the October 18 massacre in the Philippines of two-months pregnant Juvy Capion and her young sons, Jorge and Janjan, aged 13 and 8. The targeting of Juvy and her husband, Daguil Capion, reflects the reality of daily violence faced by the B’laan tribe and other indigenous peoples throughout the Philippines for actively opposing large scale mining by foreign multinational corporations encroaching on ancestral lands. GABRIELA-USA condemns the recent spate of killings of indigenous leaders and anti-mining activists in Mindanao, and we are actively reaching out to our communities in the US to support efforts in raising awareness of the recent events in Mindanao.

Juvy (bottom row 2nd from right) with children and family. Right picture: Juvy in casket

“Women and children are often the collateral damage of the trite war games of the Philippine government. And in the case of Juvy, she lost her life even as she was defending the future of her children,” stated Raquel Redondiez, Spokesperson for GABRIELA-USA. “Under President Aquino’s orders to militarize communities, the Investment Defense Forces facilitate the brutal displacement of local residents and crush their opposition of the plundering of land by foreign investors. We support the efforts of indigenous tribes, local residents, and grassroots organizations to protect the land and oppose these human rights violations.”

An independent fact-finding mission and witness accounts point to the 27th Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as the perpetrators of the attack against the Capion family. Philippine President Benigno Aquino’s regime deploys Investment Defense Forces–a mix of soldiers and police—to areas throughout the county to “protect” investments, such as that by Sagittarius Mines Incorporated-Xstrata (SMI-Xstrata).

A network of advocates and defenders of the environment and patrimony in the Philippines will embark on a ManiLakbayan, a caravan and march that aims to raise the national consciousness around the deteriorating human rights situation in relation to large-scale mining. In support of the ManiLakbayan and the accompanying weeklong series of events for the environment and human rights, GABRIELA-USA has set a goal to raise at minimum of $2000 before December 10 and calls on all friends to support this cause through generous donations.

To donate online via paypal, visit http://tinyurl.com/manilakbayandonation. Checks can also be mailed to the locations below. Please write “ManiLakbayan GABRIELA” on the memo.

Northern & Southern California: make all checks payable to “GABRIELA USA”
Mail to Babae San Francisco at 4681 Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94112

North West: make all checks payable to “Pinay sa Seattle”
Mail to Pinay sa Seattle at 5740 Martin Luther King Junior Way Seattle, WA 98118

North East: make all checks payable to “GABRIELA USA”
Mail to FIRE NYC at 699 Bergen Street, Apt 3 Brooklyn, NY 11238

For more information on fundraising and ManiLakbayan, please contact gabrielawomen@gmail.com.