Editor’s Note From Rivera Sun
A young boy was born into the struggle – literally. His parents had launched a sit-in strike in India, demanding land rights that the government had denied, when his mother went into labor. She refused to leave and gave birth to him right there on the frontline of the sit-in. Impressive. The government should award the family some land as a birthday present for the newborn, don’t you think?
Across the United States, students are organizing walkouts and school strikes to defy COVID-risky back-to-school policies. Meanwhile, in Mississippi, school bus drivers erupted into unexpected – and successful – action. They were earning $10-15/hr when the school board tried to hire emergency drivers at $25/hr. The justifiably annoyed drivers launched a strike. In under an hour, the school board raised everyone’s wages to $20/hr. Well played, bus drivers.
Other well-played actions this week include the unhoused community and allies in Idaho who met the hateful protest of bigots with a potluck counterprotest. The joyful event dispersed the hate-based demonstrators. In a similar vein of nonviolent action aikido, Myanmar citizens emptied the streets instead of filling them, launching a Silent Strike against the military coup. US librarians are organizing banned book clubs to challenge narrow-minded politicians about what stories should be read and told.
This week’s Nonviolence News also features a number of stories of courageous women organizers around the world. Women in Kenya demonstrated against the murder of an activist. In Uruguay, thousands took to the streets against a recent shocking act of sexual violence. In Afghanistan, the Taliban is tracking women who protest and arresting or abducting them afterward. It’s a dangerous time to be a woman, an organizer, or both. Hats off to those who stand up for justice despite the dangers.
With respect for all those taking action,
Rivera Sun, Editor
Photo Credit: Student leads rally during walkout over pandemic policies.
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