MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: Saturday, September 25, 2021
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna (at) unbendablemedia.com, media (at) vday.org

Afghan Activists & Artists, Women’s Rights Leaders & Broadway Stars to Speak Out in Support of Women’s Rights in Afghanistan

Organizers in New York Join activists in Mexico, Croatia, Congo, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, South Africa, UK, Philippines, Jamaica, Portugal, Taiwan, Austria, and the United States

September 20, 2021 – Following an online day of solidarity on September 1 in which activists, individuals, and groups from over 85 countries participated, RISE FOR AND WITH THE WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN will take to the streets on Saturday, September 25 in a day of global solidarity.

In New York City, a RISE FOR AND WITH THE WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN rally and action will take place at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, in sight and sound of the United Nations as the General Assembly meets. Testimonies from Afghan women on the ground and RAWA (Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan) will be read. It will be led by Afghan activists and artists Fatima Rahmati, Leeza Ahmady, Farah Arjang Vezvaee, Matin Maulawizada (co-founder Afghan Hands), Halema Wali (Afghans for a Better Tomorrow), poet Wazina Zondon, Sonita Alizada – with women’s rights activists V (formerly Eve Ensler) (founder of V-Day/One Billion Rising), founder of V-Day/One Billion Rising, Zainab Salbi, Jodie Evans, co-founder of CODEPINK, Manira Alva (Vice President, Political and Civic Engagement, of Vital Voices) and NYC Public Advocate, Jumaane Williams, musicians Morley Shanti Kamen, Chris Bruce, Neel Murgai, Trina Basu, Arun Ramamurthi, and Broadway stars and additional speakers to be announced*. Visit onebillionrising.org/risenewyork

“We take our lead from our Afghan sisters – activists who have amplified the on-the-ground realities and needs for over twenty years, working tirelessly and creatively to support women and girls and their families amidst an endless, imperialist war. Women of the world and our allies stand with the women – and all vulnerable groups – of Afghanistan against imperialism, militarism, fundamentalism, and fascism. None of us are free until the women of Afghanistan are free. We stand with the women of Afghanistan who believe women have the right to education, to travel, to freedom of movement, to jobs, to security, just having freedom to be able to breathe and be. We cannot underestimate the power of our solidarity at this moment.”

– RISE FOR AND WITH THE WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN, Global Solidarity Campaign

The Global Solidarity Campaign is being led by local Afghan activists and informed by activists on the ground in Afghanistan. To learn more about the global campaign including the call to action and list of individuals and groups who have signed on, visit onebillionrising.org/afghanistan. Read the complete press release here.

WHAT: RISE FOR AND WITH THE WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN: New York
WHEN: Saturday, September 25, 2021, 12:30-2:30 pm
WHERE: Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 1st Ave side, New York, NY
Required: Wear masks. Social distance.
LEARN MORE & RSVP at onebillionrising.org/riseNewYork

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