In order to protect women from community violence and become a voice for women shut in their homes, Afghani artist Kubra Khademi did an eight minute long protest walk on Kabul’s busiest street, wearing steel clothing. Although she received death threats following this simple but effective protest, Khademi says she does not regret her actions.
On May 14, 5,600 employees of the Renault automobile factory in Bursa halted production and resigned from the union in order to secure higher wages. The demonstration achieved a broader base when workers from TOFAŞ and supplier companies Coşkunöz, MAKO and Ototrim also took part in the demonstration. In early June workers at Coşkunöz, followed by TOFAŞ, MAKO and Ototrim, and finally Renault, secured an agreement in compliance with their demands.
India’s Robin Hood Army gathers food left over from restaurants and wedding parties, and distributes it to families in need. Every Sunday, 350 Robin Hood Army volunteers in 10 Indian cities don their T-shirts, convince restaurant owners and wedding party organizers to make the donations, thus assisting close to 2,000 people every week.
In Kilis, bride and groom Esra Polat and Fethullah Üzümcüoğlu held an out-of-the-ordinary wedding. Wanting to share their joy with refugees who had fled the war in Syria, the couple served approximately 4,000 people with a temporary soup kitchen in a truck owned by the Kimse Yok Mu (‘Isn’t there Anybody?’) Association.
When eight black churches were burned in the space of ten days in Charleston, South Carolina, Muslim student Faatimah Knight took action and called for donations to have the churches repaired and rebuilt. During the donation campaign, which lasted through the month of Ramadan, Knight and her friends raised nearly $48,000 with the help of Muslim institutions as well as many individuals of other faiths.
Komal Ahmad, who lives in America, created a telephone application which facilitates the distribution of extra food from catering companies to the homeless. Called ‘Feeding Forward,’ it has helped around 575,000 homeless people thus far. Using the app, companies notify volunteer drivers where they are holding events. The drivers then deliver the food to the places where it is most needed.
Activism against copper mining in Cerattepe, a natural site in Turkey’s Artvin province, was revived this year. When an Environmental Impact Statement cleared the way for a new copper mining project, the local people poured onto the streets. On July 2, under the umbrella of the Green Artvin Association, thousands of people marched and shouted slogans like “No to the mine,” and “Mining in Artvin is Murder,” and stood watch over bulldozers and other and other equipment. Their resistance continues.
In Syria, the White Helmets group rescues people caught in the ruins of homes burned or destroyed in fighting. Formed of people from all walks of society and named for the white helmets they wear during their efforts, they have thus far saved approximately 3,000 people from rubble. During their efforts, group members have at times been the target of bombs and sniper fire.
During prime ministerial parliamentary elections in Iraq, Kurdish MP Viyan Daxil became the first politician to speak about the Ezidi Massacre. “I appeal to you in the name of humanity, save us,” said Daxil, and called upon parliament to prevent the massacre, which began with ISIL’s occupation of Shengal. With his sincere, courageous and effective appeal, he became one of the leading voices making the subject known to the world.
Electrik Yerevan began to form when around 2,000 people gathered in front of the Opera House in Armenia’s capital Erivan to protest rising electricity prices. After the police intervened and made arrests, the number of protesters in Baghramyan Square doubled, and the demonstrations spread to other cities as well. The two-week-long protests resulted in a decision to form an auditing committee to decide whether or not the price increases were warranted. Although this decision did not completely meet the demonstrators’ demands, it was seen as a compromise by the government.
The people of Rize province united in opposition to the Yeşil Yol (‘Green Road’) Project with its goal of connecting the province’s mountain meadows, and prevented heavy equipment from entering the meadow. Claimed to be vital for tourism and slated to cut through a protected natural area, the road will disrupt ecological balances, thereby damaging biological diversity and wildlife. 63 year-old Havva Ana (‘Mother Havva’), who sat in front of the bulldozers and gained the support of the local people, became a symbol of the resistance. Their struggle continues.
In Beirut, where garbage has not been collected since July and one of the main garbage dumps closed, the people gathered with the help of social media and hit the streets with the slogan, “You Stink!” Their demand to demonstrate in the area where Council of Ministers’ Building is located was met by the construction of a cement wall in front of the building. At their protests against the wall and state violence, the wall was demolished but the demonstrations continue to call for the resignation of the government and elections.
In Uganda, a law was passed in 2013 which called for the execution of homosexuals. In 2014, in order to consolidate public opinion against the law, Pepe Julian Onziema conducted media campaigns with other gay rights defenders, raised awareness worldwide, and became one of the leading voices that forced the Ugandan government to rescind the law. This followed, with Onziema’s support, by the country’s first Pride Parade.
When bulldozers began to demolish the Armenian children’s camp Camp Armen in Tuzla, Istanbul on the morning of May 6, Nor Zartonk members, people of Tuzla and many political parties and NGOs came to the camp and prevented its destruction. The vigil that has continued since that day is being supported by an Armenian workshop, concerts and conferences on a variety of subjects. The Camp Armen activists demand the unconditional return of the Camp to the Armenian people.
Black Lives Matter, founded in 2012 in the United States, work to bring attention to and form public opinion about the murders of black people committed by police and civilians. In addition, in order to make the United States a more democratic country, Black Lives Matter points out the inequality faced by women, LGBT individuals, immigrants, the handicapped and workers, and is working rebuild the black freedom movement.
We remember and honor the young people who lost their lives in a suicide bombing of their press conference in Suruç, Urfa, where they were setting out to give hope, take toys and build a library for the children in Kobani whose lives have been devastated by the war.
