Fwd: [BRC-ANN] Statement on New York Festival Attacks

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

>Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2000 00:05:47 -0400
>From: Joo-Hyun Kang <j.kang at alp.org>
>Subject: [BRC-ANN] Statement on New York Festival Attacks
>Sender: worker-brc-announce at lists.tao.ca
>To: brc-announce at lists.tao.ca
>X-Sender: Joo-Hyun Kang <j.kang at alp.org>
>X-WWW-Site: http://www.blackradicalcongress.org/
>
>THE AUDRE LORDE PROJECT
>
>Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit & Transgender
>People of Color Communities
>
>STATEMENT ON CENTRAL PARK & 116th St. FESTIVAL ATTACKS
>
>June 16, 2000
>
>As a Center that is run by and for Lesbian, Gay,
>Bisexual, Two Spirit & Transgender (LGBTST) People of Color
>communities, we issue this statement in the context of June
>Pride month to unequivocally condemn the vicious attacks
>against women that occurred this past weekend (Saturday 6/10
>at the 116th St. Festival, and Sunday 6/11 in Central Park).
>As of this writing, over 30 women have been reported to come
>forward as survivors of these attacks.
>
>Let us be clear that these attacks, and violence against
>women in general, are examples of hate violence: women were
>targeted based on their gender, and gender expression. And
>in spite of the extraordinary media coverage of these
>particular assaults, these are not isolated incidents.
>They unfortunately reflect sexism, misogyny and violence
>that are deeply rooted in our society, where women
>(including Lesbian, Bisexual, Two Spirit and Transgender
>women) of all races and cultures are still victimized on
>a DAILY and HOURLY basis.
>
>We view the media coverage and statements of some public
>figures regarding the shameful incidents this past weekend
>with mixed emotions. On one hand, the visible attention and
>rejection of violence against women is to be applauded. On
>the other hand, we are also witnessing a dangerous public
>discourse that is using racism and ageism to scapegoat men
>of color and young people as the roots of the problem.
>As part of justice movements, we are right to demand
>accountability and justice in each of these cases.
>At the same time, it is critical that we combat
>the backwards elements of this public discourse.
>
>Despite the impression that may be left by the "mugshots" of
>men of color that have been displayed on the covers of NYC
>tabloids this week, and the constant underlining of the fact
>that the incidents took place during the weekend of the
>Puerto Rican Day Parade, perpetrators of violence against
>women are not specific to Puerto Rican, Latino, African
>descent, or other communities of color. Men who perpetrate
>violence against women are of all racial backgrounds. And as
>evident from the assaults that took place during Woodstock
>2 (and the reality of daily life in this country), these
>attacks are not restricted to ethnic-based celebrations or
>communities. As People of Color, we know that racism in the
>U.S. has often supported the mistaken notion that men of
>color are somehow more prone to violence against women
>than white men. We reject this notion. Many men of color
>understand and act on the reality that anti-sexism is a core
>value and requirement of progressive justice movements. As a
>result, we call on our brothers to re-commit themselves in
>this time to breaking the silence - by confronting sexist
>jokes, by intervening and stopping violence when they
>witness it (whether physical, mental, emotional or
>spiritual), and by proactively fighting for and
>supporting women's participation and leadership
>in all arenas.
>
>We also reject current trends of public discourse that have
>sought to single out youth and hip hop culture as somehow
>inherently violent. Commentators and public figures who
>attempt to scapegoat and criminalize youth and hip hop
>culture as the root causes of violence against women ignore
>the daily and historic role that young people and hip hop
>culture have played in struggles for justice, including the
>ongoing struggle for women's rights and feminist justice.
>
>Finally, as a Center committed to justice and liberation for
>all of our peoples, we call on our communities to struggle
>with the contradictions inherent in some of the recent
>calls for increased policing, police presence, and enhanced
>criminal penalties as a solution. While these incidents are
>indeed examples of hate crimes, incarcerating more people
>for longer periods of time in a racist, homophobic, trans-
>phobic and classist criminal (in)justice system can not
>be our final solution to hate violence. In addition, the
>reality of sexism within the NYPD, the behavior of some
>officers this weekend in belittling and remaining inactive
>in spite of direct reports of the violence, and the
>continued harassment and violence by the police against
>LGBTST communities (particularly gay men of color, people
>of Transgender experience and youth of color) and other
>communities makes the call for increased policing
>problematic. While the NYPD must be held accountable
>for the non-action of officers this past weekend, we
>must simultaneously continue to challenge the further
>criminalization of our communities as an easy solution
>to violence.
>
>In the spirit of Pride, in honoring the legacy of Stonewall,
>and in celebrating and cherishing the lives of each of our
>LGBTST brothers and sisters of color in this city - we ask
>that all of our communities speak out, organize and confront
>the ongoing epidemic of violence against women, and all
>others deemed expendable by dominant cultures.
>
>***
>
>The Audre Lorde Project:
>Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit & Transgender
>People of Color Communities
>85 So. Oxford St.
>Brooklyn, NY 11217
>Tel: 718-596-0342
>Fax: 718-596-1328
>Email: alpinfo at alp.org
>
>-30-
>
>
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