Latin Women in the United States Have Never Had Reproductive Freedom By Allison Torres
Vaccine Distribution Must Honor Equity By Fiona Gray
I am 21, I am Able to Vote, and I am Paying Attention to This Election By Jordan Anger
Entropy in the Horn By Willow Newcomb
To Be True To the Idea of America, Stop Family Separation Policies Now By Maricarmen Solis Diaz
Democrats Lose When They Don’t Listen By Anmol Goraya
Kamala Harris’s Victory Turns the Tide For Women in Politics By Rachel Freed
Sorry America, Voting Isn’t Enough By Jessica K Lobaccaro
[Is it] The Most Wonderful Time of the Year? By Drew Spero
Protecting Indigenous Women is a Solution for Climate Change By Skyla Segel
Latin Women in the United States Have Never Had Reproductive Freedom
By, Allison Torres
Latinxs in the United States, particularly Latin immigrants now facing unscrupulous conditions at the detention centers, have always been unfairly treated by the United States government. With the latest information coming out about immigrants facing unwanted hysterectomies, we must look back at the history of the United States taking away Latin women’s reproductive freedom.
Margaret Sanger was the face of the birth control movement within the United States and teamed up with biologist Gregory Pincus to work on creating a cheap birth control pill. While illegal to work reproductive medicines in the state of Massachusetts, where Pincus did most of his research, Sanger and Pincus turned their sights to an easily targeted population: Puerto Rico. As a territory of the United States, and with no plan to make the island a state, Puerto Rico would be easy to get away with using humans for medical testing. Puerto Rico was seeing a birthing boom and a steep rise in poverty, creating the perfect population to test a pill on. Puerto Ricans, due to their distinct identity as being non-American, were seen as expendable, and the white supremacist ideal that drove much of our science during these times, meant “eliminating” one population in favor of preserving another, the white American population.
Women participating in these trials were not told all of the important medical information that one would receive now when taking a new medicine. Why? The government saw no need to provide oversight on the medical companies participating in these trials, as the population being tested was, and continues to be invaluable to American life. The pills, since in trial stages, contained higher amounts of hormones than present today, creating side-effects that would be generational. The hormones altered the body, which has then been passed down through families. While the research still hasn’t proven significant data, there has been linkage.
While trying to recruit women in Puerto Rico to participate in the trials, Pincus roped in Clarence Gamble, who ran many birth control centers on the island. He also had a direct hand in advocating for sterilization policy in Puerto Rico, which saw at least one-third of women in Puerto Rico sterilized. Due to the lack of medical oversight from the government, women were not told every fact about what was known as “la operación,” which meant that they never knew that this operation was a permanent sterilization solution. Included in this lack of medical oversight is the fact that women were not told of the possibility of the elective surgery being life-ending. As people were dealing with increasing job loss and poverty, this “family-planning” method seemed the best option, despites it’s traumatic and life-long consequences.
The mistreatment of Latin women at the hands of the United States government has always been there. While certainly outrageous that forced sterilization is continuing to happen at the hands of the United States government, they have proven that the Latinx population- whether they come from another country, or a territory that’s people are Americans by birth-is expendable.
Vaccine Distribution Must Honor Equity
By Fiona Gray
Amid growing anti-vaccination sentiment, it is vital we reduce skepticism by addressing any potential accessibility barriers to a coronavirus vaccine. If we are unable to achieve herd immunity through vaccination, we may not be able to move past social distancing mandates, further harming people’s health as well as the economy of the United States. Though they are at a greater risk of contracting the virus, undocumented immigrants may be less inclined to get a coronavirus vaccine out of fear of deportation.
Nationwide, communities of color have an increased risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19. This is largely due to the way US systems have been built to be advantageous to those with higher socioeconomic standing. The intersection of race, class, and status are at the heart of this issue. The coronavirus vaccine should be free and not require any medical insurance nor disclosure of citizenship status to be administered.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act does not include many immigrant populations. The CARES Act’s goal was to provide financial assistance to individuals, families, and businesses that were affected by the pandemic. Though it only provided minimal relief, many immigrants were relying on that money to feed their families or pay their rents. The individuals who use Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) to file their taxes, are deemed ineligible for financial compensation. ITINs are used if someone does not have a social security number to use which specifically targets undocumented taxpayers. Without this relief, many families were left even more vulnerable than the rest of the population.
This forced many people to move into fields that require in-person work and interactions with many other people and their germs, including essential work in hospitals. This gives immigrant populations an increased risk of contracting the virus in addition to factors such as living in multigenerational households and using public transportation to commute. Regardless of this increased risk, many undocumented people are unlikely to seek testing or treatment out of fear of deportation. Due to this fear, the data on coronavirus cases are inaccurate among this population.
Immigrant populations have an increased risk of dying from the virus due to this distrust as well as high rates of chronic illnesses including heart and lung disease and diabetes. A coronavirus vaccine would prevent cases and deaths within this population, which would benefit the entire US population.
The Trump administration has passed a multitude of policies restricting access and freedoms for undocumented immigrants, specifically. In late February, the federal government introduced the public charge immigration rule. This limited noncitizens’ ability to participate in government programs which discouraged many from seeking public services—including medical care. In March, US Citizenship and Immigration services claimed this rule would not include seeking coronavirus-related medical care. However, in September, that amendment was reversed and the public charge rule was once again a threat to undocumented populations.
Evidence of fear is obvious when looking at clinic and hospital visits as well as flu shot records. Even with the introduction of virtual doctors’ visits, there has been a sharp decline in appointments among undocumented patients. Edgar Chavez, a family practitioner and founder of several Los Angeles-based clinics, points out that, “Just because we have Covid-19 doesn’t mean people don’t have uncontrolled diabetes anymore.” This shows that these patients are not missing routine checkups but visits that have a great effect on their health. It is vital that they feel safe and comfortable enough to return to these clinics.
Chavez also claims that he has an excess supply of this season’s influenza vaccine because of how few patients have come to receive one. It is not a leap in logic to assume this phenomenon will also occur—and likely at a larger scale—with a brand new vaccine, such as a coronavirus vaccine.
Navigating the healthcare system is confusing and complex, especially for those who only recently migrated. Additionally, many immigrant communities already distrust the American healthcare system and the Trump administration has amplified that distrust into a tangible fear. To address these accessibility barriers and fears of deportation, healthcare facilities that plan to provide the coronavirus vaccine must provide information on how and where to get vaccinated, as well as why it is urgent to receive this vaccination. Citizenship status and cost should not be factors in receiving this vaccination. This information must be provided in many different languages and in multiple locations so that everyone can be adequately educated on this process, especially undocumented immigrants. Properly educating patients on the vaccine will reduce stigma and worry around vaccines and deportation.
Though the vaccine has not been released yet, it is imperative to the safety and wellbeing of the entire population—not just immigrants—that they can have access to something that has the power to save not only their lives but the lives of everyone around them. There is no reason to discourage the population from implementing a public health measure in a pandemic, especially not a vaccine.
I am 21, I am Able to Vote, and I am Paying Attention to This Election
By Jordan Anger
Your religious beliefs should not impact your voting decision and should be made freely and come from you alone. I grew up in a Christian household. One of the not talked about but understood lessons that is taught in the Christian church is that to be a good Christian you should vote republican and believe the republican party’s viewpoints. As I grew up, I moved away from the church and I no longer believe what they have to teach. I realized that the republican, and by extension the church’s, ideals were not those that I believed in. I will be voting democratic in this presidential election.
This year with the COVID-19 pandemic raging, the media was able to see the influence that the republican party has over the church. The church continues to disregard the warnings and regulations that Dr.Fauci and the CDC has put in place to try and stop the spread of COVID-19. This disregard can be seen from the President himself, who called Dr. Fauci a “disaster” and an “idiot”. Throughout the government and state lockdowns we saw people continuing to go to church. While I am not condemning these people for going to church, as I myself understand the desire to be around people and the desire for some normalcy in life, many of them refused to wear a mask and practice social distancing. The reason for these actions is that President Donald J. Trump said that it was not necessary to follow these procedures. Yet time after time we are seeing that not following these mandates has increased the number of those exposed and has resulted in death.
Republican Christians across America voted for Trump because he is a “professed Presbyterian” and has praised the Bible stating that it is his “favorite book”. Yet what has Trump done for the Christian people? While he did urge for the churches to be able to reopen at the start of the pandemic, this was against public health official’s advice and governors telling the people to stay at home. He has also reportedly secretly mocked these very same Christians who support him. Just days ago the televangelical speaker Pat Robinson claims that God told him that Trump will win the 2020 election. He then proceeded to state that the End Times will come about five years later. What does this mean? Well it means for the Evangelical Church that the earth will be destroyed, and all shall perish and be judged by God. By having Trump in office, it indicates that he has been ordained by God and is in a position to call upon the end of times.
The Bible, Trump’s “favorite book”, teaches us that we should love our neighbor, and yet Trump refuses to talk about racism in America and by extension white supremacy. We saw this refusal to discuss these topics during the September 29, 2020 and the October 22,2020 Presidential debate. How can a group of individuals who are taught to be loving and accepting of others support a man who refuses to acknowledge the discrimination that is taking place in America today? This man, regardless of what he claimed in the presidential debate on October 22, 2020 has separated families with no plan on how to reunite them. This man has also had several sexual assault allegations against him, and yet he is still being supported by the church. Throughout just my lifetime, we have seen an increase in awareness of climate change. There have been hotter summers and colder winters, breaking previous records with more frequency each year – and yet the Christian community does not believe that the Earth is experiencing these changes. Which again is supported by what Trump has to say.
I understand that many will not like this opinion because it is in fact an opinion, and many of the links reflect Trump, and the republican party, in what could be conceived as an unsavory light. This article could also be misconstrued to insinuates that Christians are doing something wrong. I also am acknowledging that not all churches have reopened, in fact many are still holding service online. I am not calling into question a person’s faith for continuing to support the republican party. Rather I am asking that you review the deeds that have been brought forth in this article and ask yourself if this is what Christ would have wanted.
This election is an important one, not only is it my first presidential election that I and many other Gen-Z s are able to vote in, it also has the ability to influence what will happen in these coming four years. I urge everyone who is able to vote to think beyond their religious beliefs, and what their minister may be telling them, and think about what they want to see in these coming years. Just because you believe in God does not mean that you should ignore these very real and problematic occurrences that the church is supporting.
Entropy in the Horn
By Willow Newcomb
There is a genocide taking place in Ethiopia. While our western news feeds are clouded with controversy about the election results and escalating COVID-19 cases, there are crescendoing assaults against an entire people. Not only is the Ethiopian diaspora under attack, but the nation is being destructively divided at the expense of innocent civilians. This civil dissonance threatens to prompt a violent political eruption across the entire Horn of Africa, recovery from which could take decades. Reunification is thus urgent, as tensions are intensifying by the minute.
This unrest has been simmering for a while. The Tigrayan people — one of the ten semi-autonomous ethnically arranged federal Ethiopian states — have tyrannically dominated the nation over the past three decades, threatening the autonomy of other federal states and the nation at-large. Beginning in 1975, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) declared war on the socialist government of Ethiopia birthed in its capital, Addis Ababa. Border disputes with Eritrea amplified the unrest.
Claiming victory in 1991, the TPLF dominated Ethiopian politics alongside four other parties, until Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, of the Oromo ethnic group, untraditionally came to power in 2018. During his acceptance speech, Prime Minister Abiy proclaimed his intent to promote political, economic, and social reform in Ethiopia in hopes of restoring harmony within the nation and healing the wounds inflicted by historically corrupt and abusive leadership.
Upon his transition to power, Prime Minister Ahmed declared the war with Eritrea over, earning him the Nobel Peace Prize. Since then, the TPLF’s agency and influence have declined. This caused bitter resentment to grow, leading the Tigrayan people to hold their own election in September despite Addis Ababa’s wishes. In turn, Abiy’s government withdrew federal funding from the Tigray region. An unexpected military confrontation occurred not long after. Since November 4, 2020, tensions have escalated further, causing needless bloodshed.
Ethiopia is at a critical turning point. Without intervention, the nation is poised to descend into civil war. Reunification is now more urgent than ever. However, an enormous barrier stands in the way: the fracturedness of the Ethiopian diaspora. The nation was birthed by the interfusion of 80 myriad ethnic groups, each with their own complex culture. Political and social harmony has been difficult to maintain due to the myriad tribes and ethnic groups that have clashed for decades. Many of these sub-cultures of Ethiopia are small, consisting of less than 10,000 people in some cases. Their size has caused their political exclusion, allowing the fate of the nation to rest upon the four dominant ethno-political parties of the Oromo, Amhara, Somali and Tigrayans. Forming more than 75% of the nation, their dominance leaves the other 76 communities voiceless. The military strength and tyrannical tendencies of the Tigrayans has allowed them to monopolize politics. Opposition to their power has been weak, due to the lack of cultural congruence. The TPLF’s oppressive rulership over the past three decades has only isolated the smaller ethnic groups further, in turn promoting the TPLF’s power, and dividing the nation.
In its fracturedness, Ethiopia needs strong leadership. Prime Minister Abiy must step powerfully forward and create a plan for the restoration of justice. The parliament must draft a new constitution for a reunified Ethiopia that respects and validates the 80 ethnic groups that comprise the nation, while simultaneously being cautious of the devolution that led to its previous decay. The boundaries of the parliament must also be made clear: facilitating and protecting the rights of the people. The days of oppressive leadership must end now.
There must also be a radical equalization amongst the sub-cultures and communities of Ethiopia. The constitution must protect minority rights by preventing one group from dominating the others and forbidding the suppression of specific ethno-political parties. The room for TPLF to dominate politics with violence must be made non-existent.
Before a new constitution can successfully be implemented there must be reconciliation of the past. The TPLF must be abolished, along with the political philosophies it endorsed. The scars of their tyrannical rulership must be erased through the restoration of freedom and liberty guaranteed by a new constitution. The Tigrayan people can remain a part of reunified Ethiopia, but its assumed hegemony must be completely aborted.
More than anything, Ethiopia requires unity amongst the citizens. The diversity of the nation should be used to promote the voice of the people. Oneness can be achieved in the midst of cultural heterogeneity, as illustrated by the Bosnian regime. Bosnia was able to achieve a successful reunification despite its heterogeneous societal construction. Without the requisite support of the people, reunification will be impossible. There must be a robust commitment to peace from various ethno-political parties in order to restore ultimate peace.
Finally, there must be an intercession of the United Nations within Ethiopia. This crisis will require a third party agency, like the UN, to facilitate the resolution of this conflict. 5 days ago, the UN and Ethiopian government signed an agreement that would allow humanitarians to deliver aid including food, water, medicine, and clothes to the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. Though this is necessary and appreciated, there is a greater requirement upon the UN to use their agency to promote peace within this region through the ultimate abolishment of the TPLF.
This is not a time for division, but a time for progressive thought and action. There must be an end to the ethnic apartheid taking place in Ethiopia. Every minute we wait will cost the lives of innocent civilians.
To Be True To the Idea of America, Stop Family Separation Policies Now
Maricarmen Solis Diaz
As a daughter of immigrants and a privileged US citizen, I am disappointed about the reality of family separation conducted by ICE. Both my parents and I are very worried about our country’s racist ideas on homeland security. It seems as though our leaders, both currently and in history, have disregarded the key factor in family separation: these are families. It is inherently cruel and inhumane to want to separate families. ICE’s deportation practices have been very successful in showing us how much the country is willing to destroy families in the process of ‘protecting’ the nation’s borders, if we can call it that. Here are four reasons why ICE must stop family separations now.
First, ICE wants to deport immigrants based on the idea that they are criminals as well. However, separating families doesn’t reduce crime or make our communities safer. For example as reported in Comparing crime rates between undocumented immigrants, legal immigrants, and native-born US citizens in Texas, “Relative to undocumented immigrants, US-born citizens are over 2 times more likely to be arrested for violent crimes, 2.5 times more likely to be arrested for drug crimes, and over 4 times more likely to be arrested for property crimes.”
Second, it is important to acknowledge that these migrant families are fleeing violence and poverty. They are trying to look for a safe future for their families. Separating them for no fault of theirs is very cruel, arbitrary, and does not help them. As Michelle Brané, director of the Migrant Rights and Justice program at the Women’s Refugee Commission, an advocacy group that monitors immigration detention centers, told The New York Times:” The idea of punishing parents who are trying to save their children’s lives, and punishing them for being brought to safety by their parents by separating them, is fundamentally cruel and un-American…It really to me is just a horrific ‘Sophie’s Choice’ for a mom.”’
Third, Trump had hoped that the family separation policy would serve as deterrence: “If they feel there will be separation, they don’t come”. This is false because it does not work to stop migrants from coming. People are often fleeing violence, gangs, murder, and poverty. If the US truly wants to stop this flow of people, they should promote better government and a stable economy in the home countries of migrants. As stated in The Washington Post, “Long-term prosperity and security in Central America would require increased economic opportunity, reduced corruption, increased tax revenue, efforts to contain organized crime and decreased U.S. demand for drugs traveling through the region.” Silva Mathema, a researcher at the Center for American Progress explains how “Turning these individuals and families back or actively deporting them to their home countries—sometimes after first criminally prosecuting them and sentencing them to time in U.S. federal prison—may mean returning them to places where they may face persecution, displacement, and, in some cases, even death.”
Finally, people have a right to move and we should want to help them. We have a responsibility to do so. This country was built on the backs of slaves and immigrant workers. As David J. Skorton points out, “there are the many reminders of the millions of uncelebrated heroes who helped build our nation, including photographs of Russian-American steel workers and of Chinese migrants who laid the train tracks that connected America from West to East.”
We need to put an end to family separation policies. The US should help to expand the flow of migrants and make efforts in improving the path to obtaining citizenship. The United States already has immigration processes and laws that allow people to immigrate and seek asylum. Let’s facilitate that and respect that long history. ICE’s approach should shift to enabling/supporting families to create a better life for their children, to getting resettled, instead of making it more difficult. The policies in place currently are not at all useful in creating safer borders. Future policies should point their attention away from making sure migrant parents do not see their children and towards understanding why they are coming in the first place.
Democrats Lose When They Don’t Listen
By Anmol Goraya
The Biden-Harris ticket may have reigned victorious in the presidential election, but Democrats struggled to remain afloat down-ballot. Failing to reclaim the Senate and only narrowly retaining a House majority, the underwhelming appearance of the anticipated ‘blue wave’ affirms that Democrats must let go of their affinity to centrism and adopt fresh, progressive policies that correspond to the needs of their voters.
While the Democratic Party overall reeled from the unanticipated erosion of both House and Senate seats, over 75% of candidates endorsed by the national chapter of Democratic Socialists of America celebrated victories on Election Night — in blue and red states alike. Progressive Democratic candidates who ran on policies like Medicare for All defeated — and even unseated — moderate Democratic candidates in the primaries and went on to secure Congressional seats with ease, while traditional Democrats floundered. One need not look further than Massachusetts’ own Ed Markey to illustrate this point.
The Democratic Party should take the 2020 election results as an indicator of the shifting interests of the people, and follow suit. In this deeply polarized political climate, Democrats who appeal to moderate or centrist sensibilities have an increasingly shrinking audience. Those who instead follow the lead of new, progressive ideas see overwhelming support. Youth investment in the political sphere is motivated by a vision for the future, powered by ideas rather than figures, shaped by a worldview that is unafraid of radical movement. It necessitates honesty and sees through political hyperbole.
Policy points that have been marginal for previous generations have reappeared as non-negotiable in the eye of a young American voter. Issues of foreign policy, once perceived as secondary concerns, now make or break youth support for a candidate. What is this politician’s stance on foreign intervention in Latin American states? How would they approach foreign relations with the Palestinian people? Concern over domestic policy issues have gained traction with young voters at unprecedented rates. What is this politician’s plan to redistribute wealth amongst society fairly? Do they afford policy priority to gun control and public safety?
Put plainly, It’s no longer enough to tack the Democratic Party title onto a platform; especially amongst youth voters, candidates need to ramp up their politics, plain and simple.
It’s imperative that the Democratic Party move forward with this new accountability in mind. Democrats need to embrace the will of the people by advocating for progressive policies on all fronts instead of clinging to outdated moderate agendas that render them unelectable. And young Americans, must continue voting along our moral and civil obligations rather than lay complicit in the workings of a two-party system.
Kamala Harris’s Victory Turns the Tide For Women in Politics
By Rachel Freed
This weekend marked a historic victory for women of color in the United States. Kamala Harris, who will be serving as this nation’s next vice president, is a black woman from South Asian descent and the daughter of immigrants. Harris’s victory marks a shift in the views of the American people away from anti-immigrant sentiments and towards a more inclusive future. Young voters are beginning to demand female and immigrant representation in their political leaders.
Recent studies have shown that young women desire more female representation in positions of power. A Pew Research Center study from 2018 found that 74% of women ages 18 to 49 felt that there are not enough women in top political offices, compared to only 63% of women ages 50 or older (Menasce Horowitz et al.). Women are acknowledging gender discrimination in professional settings and using their voices to fight for equality. The same study also found that 68% of women ages 18 to 49 believe gender discrimination is a major reason why women are underrepresented in politics, while only 50% of women aged 50 or older agreed with this statement (Menasce Horowitz et al.). The recognition that gender discrimination still plays a massive role in inhibiting the professional lives of women in America is a powerful step towards achieving gender equality in the country.
Not only are women speaking out against gender discrimination, but they have consistently utilized their votes as a means of implementing change. Ever since women were granted the right to vote in 1920, they have taken the responsibility very seriously. The number of female voters has exceeded the number of male voters in every presidential election since 1964 (Cassidy). More specifically, 70% of black women voted in the 2012 presidential election and 64% voted in 2016 (Cassidy). If we support the idea that female voters seek representation for women and minorities in politics, it comes as no surprise that voter turnout for black women was so high during those elections. In 2012, Barack Obama was running for his second term in office and in 2016, Hillary Clinton was the first female Democratic candidate for president. People want to vote for candidates that not only share their values and priorities, but also those who understand the plight of being a minority in America. Although voter demographics from the 2020 presidential election are still being examined, it is likely that women remained consistent in their voting practices and made their voices heard. This is especially likely given that the 2020 presidential election had the highest voter turnout in US history.
Studies have also shown that attitudes towards immigrants in the United States have changed drastically since the 1990s. Immigrants have always been the backbone of America, but they have not always been treated that way. A Pew Research Center study found that in 1994, 63% of Americans felt that immigrants burdened the country by taking jobs, housing, and healthcare and only 33% felt that immigrants strengthened the nation (Budiman). When comparing these results to those of 2019, we see that now only 24% of Americans feel that immigrants are a burden, while 66% assert that immigrants strengthen the nation through hard work and talent (Budiman). This report claims that the attitude towards immigrants has moved in a completely different direction in only 25 years. These positive responses to immigrants are especially promising when one considers the projected immigration pattern in the coming years. Immigrants and their descendants are projected to account for 88% of US population growth through 2065 (Budiman). Immigrants have been and will always be essential to the culture, lifestyle, and economy of the United States. If Americans continue this trend of positive views on immigration, it is likely that the US could see an immigrant in the White House in the coming decades.
Although the votes of young people and women reflect a pro-immigrant nation, one cannot forget that xenophobic sentiments continue to ravage America to this day. Biden and Harris did not have a landslide victory as many Democratic voters had hoped. American voters are divided on key policy issues, including immigration, climate change, and the influence of systemic racism in this country. As the next president and vice president of the United States, Biden and Harris will have to work incredibly hard to unite the American people once again.
No one knows what the coming years will have in store for the country or even the world. If 2020 has taught us anything, it is how to roll with the punches and work with what we have. That being said, the election results have proven that the American people will work to see representation for women, people of color, and immigrants in the political sphere. I hope that every American understands the power that they hold with their vote and the changes they can make with their voice.
As our First Madam Vice President, will Kamala Harris Protect Survivors of Gender-based Violence?
By Lucy Rowing
With the 59th Presidential Inauguration less than 35 days away, many Americans feel hopeful about Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’s landmark role in the incoming administration. Policymakers, especially advocates for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), are preparing for a new era—supposedly an era of change. However, we cannot assume that Harris will defend GBV survivors solely based on her gender or past work prosecuting crimes of sexual violence. The recent contradictions in her history tell another story. Though the Democratic Party prefers to selectively apply the mantras of “believe women” and “support survivors” only when it is politically convenient, voters must not forget Harris’s individual shortcomings and political failures with regards to GBV.
In 2018, California Senator Kamala Harris had her moment in the limelight during the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings, where her prosecutorial expertise shone. After Dr. Christine Blasey Ford came forward and testified against Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Harris’s unyielding questioning of Kavanaugh was met with praise. Survivors of GBV expressed gratitude to the prominent senator who refused to back down; this starkly contrasted with Senator Harris’s reaction to a different sexual assault allegation in April 2020.
During that month, Tara Reade, a former Senate staffer for Biden, came forward and filed a criminal complaint against Joe Biden. Harris dismissed the credibility of the alleged 1993 sexual assault and stood by former Vice President Biden, vouching for his character. Using her personal relationship as evidence, Harris explained to the San Francisco Chronicle, she could “only speak to the Joe Biden I know.” This tactic is a common defense weaponized against victims’ claims to weaken credibility.
Harris went on to say: “The Joe Biden I know is somebody who really has fought for women and empowerment of women and for women’s equality and rights.” This logic ignores the reality that one can display public advocacy and still commit violence in one’s personal life; the two are not mutually exclusive.
Just four months later, Kamala Harris accepted the nomination as Biden’s running mate. By stepping into that role Kamala chose to unequivocally support Joe Biden—at least in the public eye. Her past legislative histories—some controversial—to protect women from intimate partner violence, sex crimes, and human trafficking paired with her professional partnership with Biden creates a muddled cognitive dissonance for survivors and advocates.
Californians have not forgotten Kamala Harris’s passivity with Catholic clergy abuse during her time as San Francisco’s district attorney and subsequently as California’s attorney general. Her district attorney predecessor, Terrence Hallinan, compiled a wealth of documentation and the mounting evidence against San Francisco Archdiocese priests accused of serial molestation and rape of children. After Kamala Harris took up the position in 2004, the investigation became inactive. She refused to meet or cooperate with the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP), despite consistently touting herself as a champion for sexual abuse survivors in multiple campaigns. Over 15 years later, Harris has yet to speak publicly on the issue.
President-elect Biden’s history also holds hypocrisies. The 2016 Obama-Biden social campaign “It’s On Us” aims to reduce campus sexual assault. Biden spoke on college campuses. He cited his penning of the 1994 Violence Against Women Act as a testament to his passion for the issue. But can we fully value Biden’s advocacy for women’s rights for the many, if he has harmed individuals?
President-elect Biden is ultimately responsible for his past actions. His treatment of Anita Hill during Justice Clarence Thomas’s confirmation hearings, documented events of inappropriate touching with women and young girls, and Tara Reade’s story illustrate an unsettling pattern.
Americans are left to wonder, is Kamala Harris’s support to survivors inauthentic or does she believe her position of power as Vice President is more important than individual experiences of sexual violence?
GBV survivors cannot simply trust Vice President-elect Harris’s gender will radically change sexism in the United States. President Barack Obama’s inauguration did not end racism in the U.S. Unfortunately, Senator John McCain’s concession speech to President Obama in 2008, “America today is a world away from the cruel and prideful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African American to the presidency of the United States” did not come to fruition.
In Abolition Democracy: Beyond, Empire, Prisons and Torture, Angela Davis wrote “racism does not of necessity vanish with the appearance of individual people of color within those institutions that bear responsibility for the workings of racism.” Kamala’s identity as a Black and South Asian woman alone is not able to protect women, people of color, and survivors.
It’s critical to press Biden and Harris as they undertake the 46th presidency. This pivotal administration is under pressure to undue Trump-era reforms. But the urgency of these changes cannot compromise the integrity of new protections for vulnerable populations. Not only do we need to reduce rates of violence, but we also need to increase protections so victims who want to report have the necessary protections and access to speak out. GBV is an epidemic amongst migrants and must be prioritized in immigration reform. Native women, disabled individuals, and incarcerated populations also experience disproportionately high rates of sexual violence and deserve explicit protections. We cannot allow this administration to pay lip service to survivors without supporting their distinct stories, needs, and rights. The first woman in the American vice presidency is not enough to guarantee protections for women. Advocates, our work here is not yet done.
Sorry America, Voting Isn’t Enough
By Jessica K Lobaccaro
For the past couple months, each time I open Instagram my timeline is flooded with infographics and ads telling me to vote on November 3rd. With the 2020 Presidential Election less than two weeks away, this kind of content is only ramping up. In 2016, only 55.6% of American citizens voted. This time around, people seem adamant that this percentage needs to go up. But what does that really mean? Now, I am not saying that voting is not important and that we shouldn’t vote, but guilting people into voting and shaming non-voters is not the answer either. It has been extremely noticeable that this election in particular is shoving voting down America’s throat. Joe Biden is constantly tweeting about how “This is the most important election of our lifetimes” and voting is the only way to save us. To a certain extent, he may be correct – voting Trump out may temporarily halt America from descending into full blown fascism. But there is a difference between a privileged white person choosing not to vote versus someone who is actually suppressed and exploited by the system daily. The repetition of telling people to vote on social media creates a bubble where people begin to think that voting will fix all of America’s issues. This mentality ignores the fact that voter suppression is a huge problem already, and with the introduction of a global pandemic that strongly suggests to stay clear of large gatherings, the problem becomes even larger. For one, Election Day is not a Federal Holiday. This can be decidedly inconvenient for voters who cannot get off work or get out of prior commitments and disproportionately affects people of color, people with disabilities, and low-income voters. Some people are forced to work two or more jobs and cannot afford a day off, especially in the middle of an economic crisis brought on by a global pandemic. In the 2016 election, 14% of registered voters did not vote because they were “too busy” or had a “conflicting schedule.” If we take voting so seriously why not make Election Day a Federal Holiday and increase the voter turnout? Not only does our voting system make it inconvenient for people to participate, but it’s also set up in such a way that many individuals are outright disenfranchised. Dependent on the state, convicted felons could lose their right to vote while incarcerated, during probation, and even for life. Again, this is particularly harmful for Black Americans because of the racial bias that exists within the criminal justice system. Felony disenfranchisement is just another aspect of voter suppression that is often overlooked by wealthy white Americans. Furthermore, there are an estimated 10.5 – 12 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, that is a very large chunk of the population. These people work and live in American society and should have a say in our government, however restrictions are imposed onto them to make it impossible for them to vote. Immigrants cannot vote until they become a naturalized citizen, which could take years to occur (or not happen at all). It is also required that you bring a form of ID to vote. However, IDs can be very difficult to get and are very expensive. These restrictions put minority communities and undocumented immigrants at a disadvantage and take away their rights as people who live in America under the US government. I understand why voting has become such a big push for Americans, especially this year. But I am fearful that people rely on voting too much. Especially when the voting system itself is set up to maintain white supremacy and other systems of discrimination that are so widespread in American politics. We must ask ourselves: What will I do after I vote? Because voting is not enough. If it was, maybe we wouldn’t be in the situation we are currently in. Revolutionary change will not come from electoral politics, even if it may be a step in the right direction. So yes America, vote. But don’t stop there. Join progressive organizations, do grassroots work, educate yourselves, go out and protest, hold politicians accountable, and hold our government accountable.
[Is it] The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?
By Drew Spero
Many people associate this time of year, the incoming winter months, with the holiday season. From Thanksgiving to Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and finally New Years’, winter is thought to be “the most wonderful time of the year,” but have we ever stopped to think about who it is really wonderful for?
Just because the majority of the population are practicing Christians does not mean other religions should not be recognized and given the same respect that Christianity automatically receives. What most non-Jews don’t know about Hanukkah is that it is actually one of the least important Jewish holidays. The only reason Hanukkah is commercialized is because it falls around Christmas and Jews didn’t want to feel left out of the holiday festivities. In fact, although the United States is home to at least four main religions other than Christianity, Christianity is the only religion that is acknowledged and accommodated through most school and work breaks.
I am Jewish, I also suffer from anxiety. You may be wondering how these two things correlate, but I promise they do. When I was younger, I attended Hebrew school every Wednesday and Sunday. Frankly, I hated it. I thought the lessons were interesting and honestly, I did enjoy learning Hebrew and seeing my friends, but I hated having to go to Hebrew school after having been at regular school all day. Once I had my bat mitzvah, I quit Hebrew school and pretty much stopped paying attention to Jewish identity altogether. I became a Hanukkah/ Passover/ Rosh Hashanah/ Yom Kippur Jew, only celebrating the major and most well known holidays. It was easy for me to let go of this part of my identity because I was never really forced to acknowledge it. We never had any Jewish holidays off for school, even a day for Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, Judaism was NEVER talked about in my elementary school and only sometimes talked about in high school, and my family isn’t very observant so I was able to slip out of the religion.
Once I got to college, however, I made a resolution with myself to “be a better Jew” and start focusing more on my faith again. Most colleges give students the option to take days off if they want to observe religious holidays, so I took advantage of that to go to services on Rosh Hashanah my freshman year. I was so proud of myself for starting my journey to reconnect with Judaism until I looked at all the work I missed from just that singular day of classes. Anxiety immediately swept over my body and my brain lept into a panic attack, wondering how I had missed so much work in just one day. I was so focused on bettering myself with my religion that I let my academics slip. My point of telling this story is that although the intent behind giving students the option to take a “religious day” is good, it is still misguided. Some colleges can have up to one month off for “Christmas break” (I put this in quotes because not everyone is celebrating Christmas during this break) but Jews can’t even have one day off to observe Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur without having the stress of work looming over us.
Every year my friends and I experience the same indecision: should we skip our classes to observe the holiday but ultimately become anxious about the amount of work we have to make up, or should we attend class and feel guilty for not taking the day off to observe the holiday? For the past two years I have attended classes on these important holidays, much to my dismay, because as important as my Jewish identity is to me, my academics are also important.
I tell this story to remind everyone that although Christianity makes up roughly 70% of the population, it does not account for everyone. Christianity is given frequent accommodations in especially school, work, and government settings, while other religions are seemingly forgotten about. The United States likes to pride itself on acceptance and diversity, although throughout the past four years that narrative has visibly dwindled, but we are not as progressive as some would like to believe. Is it really that difficult to give Jews one day off to observe Rosh Hashanah or Muslims one day off to observe Ramadan?
And remember: as Hanukkah approaches, don’t shame your Jewish friends if they don’t know when it is! This holiday is really so unimportant for us and just because it is commercialized doesn’t mean we are looking forward to it. Additionally, 2020 has been a tough year. Many people have lost loved ones due to COVID-19, so regardless of religion, just be empathetic as the holiday season (for some) approaches.
Protecting Indigenous Women is a Solution for Climate Change
By Skyla Segel
If you saw a bulldozer digging up the soil in your front lawn without your permission what would you do? Kindly ask them to stop? Call the cops? File a lawsuit? Scream? Cry? Or look the other way (like at your neighbor’s perfectly untouched front lawn) and just let it happen?
Indigenous peoples are expected to do the latter despite years of exploitation on their property and homelands. Morals upheld by justly civic law only go as far as who and what the white man thinks should be invited to the party. Everyone and everything else can just suffer and suddenly it’s not their problem. These indigenous people, especially women, who are born on American soil, arguably more American than any white man, are treated like the dirt that’s stolen from them and bulldozed to irreversible destruction. We are blind to what is not in our front lawn because if it is out of sight it is out of mind.
Indigenous women should be leading the climate crisis conversation. They are being violently abused, murdered, they’re lands stolen and destroyed like their bodies, and their voices silenced. To protect indigenous women is to protect the environment.
Indigenous Peoples live in some of the most resource-rich areas in the world including forests, mountains, and deserts - in large part because they have protected and preserved them for generations. This has made them prime targets for both extractive industries and protected areas. They continue to face the loss of
their lands, livelihoods, sacred sites, and self-governance because of development projects. On top of this, they are the best guardians of the world’s forests and biodiversity in the face of climate change. Studies show that where Indigenous Peoples have secure rights to their lands, carbon storage is higher and deforestation is lower. Women are key for protecting this as the main cultivators, workers, and protectors of their lands that they have historically been recognized as.
Women’s key role in indigenous communities is crucial to understanding how to conserve land and biodiversity. They protect their communities, resources, knowledge, and generations (past, present, and future). According to the UN’s report on Indigenous Women and Environmental Violence, they are “cultural practitioners, healers, teachers and knowledge holders” who have the most important role in transferring language and culture to youths. Consequently, indigenous women are very involved in resistance campaigns to defend their lands, their rights, and the greater environment, making their role in political movements equally as important. On top of indigenous civil rights, they contribute to academic and social narratives of feminism and environmental justice to these movements and have been for centuries across the globe.
More specifically, these women face life-threatening challenges to this activism, where many are being violently oppressed and murdered. UN Special Rapporteur Victoria Tauli-Corpuz spoke on the issue in an interview published by The Guardian about the UN’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, where women were active participants and contributors. She reminds us that many Indigenous Peoples are still being dispossessed of their lands by states and corporations, and are being criminalized and assassinated when they fight to protect their lands from being grabbed and polluted by mining and oil companies. Their activism is labeled as radical and even terrorist making these violent injustices go
completely unnoticed. For example, more than 70 percent of murders of Native Americans in just Colorado go unreported to the FBI. In fact, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention claimed in 2016 that the third-leading cause of death for Native American and Alaska Native females, aged 10-24, was murder.
As we have seen, women are key for protecting the environmental lands with a narrative that includes their roles in their indigenous communities and that of one of the most oppressed women of color in the culture facing serious injustice compared to men. The Pope recognized Indigenous Peoples as the best guardians of the world’s forests and biodiversity. Studies show that where Indigenous Peoples have secure rights to their lands, carbon storage is higher and deforestation is lower. As Victoria Tauli-Corpuz says, securing land rights for Indigenous Peoples “is a proven climate change solution”.
So, does it come down to people or the economy? The environment is at the intersection of that, funnily enough. The answer is always money, money, and more money. Bulldozers come and go and land will continue to be destroyed like the bodies that occupy them. Do we fight for them if they don’t affect us? Or do we go on with our lives and ignore the harsh and frankly inconvenient reality? When answering that question put yourself in the shoes of indigenous women and nature for a start.
GWU Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies 