When the US pulled out of Afghanistan, a coalition of groups and activists spent much time talking with our sisters on the ground in Afghanistan. In the spirit of our work and always taking the lead from women on the ground, we asked them what they most needed and they told us:

They need our solidarity.
They need our support.
They need our eyes on Afghanistan.
They need us not to recognize the Taliban.
They need massive humanitarian aid.
They need our sisterhood.
They need us to Roar, Rage, and Rise.

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 took to the streets on Saturday, September 25 in a day of global solidarity. Activists, women’s and human rights groups, and high profile individuals mounted in person actions across the globe led by local Afghan activists and informed by activists on the ground in Afghanistan in places as far reaching as Mexico, Croatia, Eswatini, Congo, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, South Africa, Italy, UK, Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Jamaica, Guatemala, Thailand, Nigeria, Portugal, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Zambia, Austria, and the United States.

“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

Individuals and organizations who signed on and spread the word across their social channels included RAWA (Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan), Jane Fonda, V (formerly Eve Ensler) Rosario Dawson, Angela Davis, Thandiwe Newton, Lisa Joy, Pat Mitchell, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Jennifer Buffett, Katherine McFate, Annie Lennox, Zainab Salbi, Emma Thompson, Nina Turner, Naomi Klein, Glenn Close, Connie Britton, Jodie Evans, Alyse Nelson, Heather McGee, Shabnam Hashmi, Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, Rosa Clemente, Bonnie Abaunza, 1 Billion Rising/V-Day, CODEPINK, Vital Voices, 350.org, Equality Now, FEMEN, SANGAT, African American Policy Forum, Gabriela, Jagori Rural, One Fair Wage, Women’s March Global, Revolutionary Love Project, Justice For Migrant Women, Planned Parenthood – LA, Miry’s List, Peace Over Violence, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas and many, many more.

This is what it looked like.