Today AF3IRM gathers around the country today to demand justice for transwomen of color and justice for Jennifer Laude at rallies for #TransLivesMatter. As we remember the lives of the transwomen of color who have been murdered, attacked, and exploited, we share this exclusive video from the Laude family and a solidarity message from the feminist organization Kaisa Ka working on the ground in the Philippines for Justice for Jennifer.
MESSAGE FROM JENNIFER LAUDE’S FAMILY
Message From the Laude Family from AF3IRM on Vimeo.
SOLIDARITY MESSAGE FROM KAISA KA
From the Desk of:
Ms. Proleta Gomez
Secretary General
Message of Solidarity for the #TransLivesMatter Rally
KAISA KA, a grassroots-based feminist organization working for social change in the Philippines, joins you in spirit in your rally today and in your struggle for dignity, safety and justice for transgender persons!
We, in KAISA KA, are in the thick of a fight for justice for the recent victim of a US marine and of US militarism! Jennifer Laude, a transgender woman was brutally killed in a hotel room in Olongapo City last October 11. Her body was found with her head pushed down the toilet bowl her tongue sticking out. Police investigators say she died of asphyxiation by drowning.
The brutality showed that the killing was driven by so much hatred, hatred for the transgender.
As we seek justice for Jennifer we also seek for the scrapping of the Visiting Forces Agreement and other lopsided defense agreements between the United States and the Philippines that have led to the return of a big number of troops doing exercises and training in our country. Since 2002, no day has been without US troops in the Philippines.
The more than 48 years of US military occupation and the 45 years with a Military Bases Agreement resulted in various militarism-related problems for us Filipinos. Among these are long lists of crimes, most of which are violence against women. US military presence and the policy of granting soldiers “liberty” worsened prostitution and other social problems that go with it. And worse, the Philippines never got to arrest, much less prosecute offenders.
The post-bases status of visiting forces agreement has produced a new list of transgressions. Jennifer is the latest victim.
While we are saddened by this occurrence, we find this an opportunity to expose to the whole world how US militarism is endangering civilian lives, not only of women but also of transgender persons. We know that some transgender women were victims of physical and sexual violence of US soldiers during the time of the bases but no one came out in the open.
We oppose misogyny and hatred of gays, lesbians and transgender people we should unite in opposing US militarism. This causes great insecurity among peoples exploited and oppressed by imperialism but also because the US military is a bastion of patriarchy that promotes a macho culture and hatred for women and girls, lesbians, gays and transgender.
No to exploitation, oppression and discrimination! Yes to liberation!
[PDF of Message of Solidarity for the TransLivesMatter Rally]
LINK TO AF3IRM SOLIDARITY STATEMENT TO JENNIFER LAUDE’S FAMILY ON HER BIRTHDAY