NEW YORK CITY–The recent, unexplained death of Sandra Bland under police custody earlier this month to Boko Haram abducting hundreds of schoolgirls in Nigeria, many of whom were also raped and forcibly married, has raised public discourse around militarism’s impact on black women’s bodies from different geographic contexts. The 3rd session on Militarization and its impact on women—black women in the United States, women in occupied territories, native women, and transnational, immigrant and/or migrant communities both in the United States and abroad. Held on July 25, the session begged the questions: “what does it mean to be secure?” “who is protecting whom?”
Joan Ariete and Leani Auxilio of AF3IRM NYC led the session and discussed how militarism and the militarization of law enforcement impacts women of color, the institutionalization and the invisibility of the impact on women in part, because of foreign policy, and the resistance movements and ways in which women are fighting back.
As described by Ariete, “rape, in all sense of the word, is used as a tool of war. Rape as a tool destroys reproductive health—a strong trend in the establishment and institutionalization of patriarchy and male domination.” Auxilio broadened the conversation and discussed militarism in the United States, the militarization of local police forces such as the NYPD, and the institutions that keep militarism’s assault on women of color, invisible.
Tara Tabassi of the War Resisters League debunked the mythologies created around joining the military and discussed strategies to counterbalance such myth, with the discussion of the realities that come from joining the military. Tabassi underscored the urgency of such conversations and noted the mental health issues and high rates of suicide are directly linked to those that enter into the military.
The session concluded with a campaign skill-building session led by Joan Ariete and Justine Calma of AF3IRM NYC. Connecting the theoretical concepts of militarism and militarization built in the class, students learned the basics of identifying a problem, thinking through a solution and developing a call-to-action.
The fourth session on August 1st features the study and discussion of commonality and differences in women’s struggles in five cultural contexts. For more information regarding how to join, email: [email protected].