Daniela Carrasco is a symbol of human rights protest in Chile. After she was apprehended, she was found dead in her home. In order to draw attention to this murder, Chilean feminist collective Las Tesis organized a protest with dancing. Women around the world repeated this demonstration with words in their own languages, protesting the killing of women, and sexual attacks and abuse against them.
In Indonesia, the young women who founded the metal group ‘Voice of Baceprot’ were accused of behavior inappropriate to Islam. Despite receiving hundreds of death threats, they continue making music in which they defend gender equality in their society.
In Diyarbakır’s historic Sur quarter, four female painters are covering sexist obscenity on walls along the streets with their own paintings. Painting over the obscenities with traditional female figures, the women are using art to challenge sexism.
In Germany, 71-year-old Irmela Mensah-Schramm is removing Neo-Nazi decals on Berlin’s streets with acetone, digging out Nazi symbols and racist graffiti with a spatula, and covering hateful images with spray paint.
In her TikTok makeup tutorials, Feroza Aziz in the United States began talking about the Chinese government’s oppressive policies in Xinjiang to draw attention to the human rights abuses suffered by the Uyghurs there.
In Greece, the ‘Support Art Workers’ initiative released a video in support of Grup Yorum, whose members are still being tried, and more than 120 of whose concerts have been banned. More than 120 artists came together in Athens and performed Kardeş Türküler’s ‘Tencere Tava Havası’, sending a message of solidarity against censorship and oppression.
In Hong Kong there were mass protests against the suggestion to send apprehended suspects to China to be judged. Noting that the Chinese justice system is not transparent, and that this practice may put rights defenders and journalists at risk, the protesters’ voice was heard in supportive demonstrations held around the world.
In Istanbul, the 18th Pride March was carried out online. On a map prepared for the march, with the theme #BenNeredeyim (‘#WhereAmI’), participants chose the desired map location, banner and slogan to demonstrate that they were ‘everywhere.’
In the United States, the murder of George Floyd by a white Policeman gave rise to a widespread protest movement. Drawing attention to the deeply-rooted discrimination suffered by African Americans, the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement continues to raise awareness and monitor changes in the system.
When it was announced that Turkey would withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, which stipulated the prevention and punishment of all forms of violence against women, women in various places around the country began demonstrating. Despite police violence and prohibitions, women of all ages from every city are demanding their right to life with the slogan, ‘We will not lose another.’
Protests began against India’s New Citizenship Law, which granted citizenship to refugees of various religious groups coming from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh but denied this right to Muslims. Despite curfews, blockages of telephones and transportation, and arrests of local party members, the protests continue.
Hundreds of lawyers and bar association chairs from around Turkey marched towards Ankara in an effort to prevent the enactment of the ‘Multiple Bar Associations’ bill that sought to render bar associations ineffective. Despite all the obstructions, the lawyers managed to gather in Ankara, emphasizing the indispensable nature of independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.
In Lebanon, in the wake of the explosion in the Beirut port that claimed the lives of around two hundred people and left thousands without homes, people from Beirut and other cities joined forces to mobilize aid. Despite the challenging circumstances, the volunteers got swiftly organized to support those whose homes have been destroyed with food and water, cleaned up collapsed buildings and streets, helped to find lost articles, and secure shelter for people left homeless.
As we continue to be tested by the pandemic in 2020, people sewing face masks in their homes and in workshops, making face shields for healthcare workers with 3-D printers at home, creating networks to meet food and hygiene needs, and empowering the public with music, have been lights in the darkness. With respect and gratitude, we salute all the healthcare workers around the world who have faced difficult conditions and countless obstacles in their fight against the epidemic.
