HYPERLOCAL NEWS HUB BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS DEPARTMENT OF JOURNALISM
Women In Black
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
By Sheifalika Bhatnagar, MicroMemphis ReporterNovember 2, 2011
Every Wednesday at noon, a group of women stand together on the front steps of the First Congregational Church UCC in Cooper- Young to silently protest the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In solidarity with a movement called Women In Black, local Memphians have joined together to protest the violence of ongoing military conflicts that destroy the lives of unseen victims like women and children. Senior Pastor of First Congregational Church, Cheryl Cornish, brought Women in Black to Memphis in 2003 to demonstrate against the U.S. invasion of Iraq. “We were looking for a way to voice our outrage for the Iraqi invasion,” she said. |
For more information on WiB vigils from around the world, visit the Women In Black website by clicking on the photo.
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Women In Black is an anti-war, women’s movement that began in 1988 during the First Intifada in the Middle East and has spread worldwide as a more women’s group stand in opposition to ongoing wars.
“Women In Black is an international movement that began when women responded to the violence in Palestine and Israel,” Cornish said. “It’s specifically a women’s witness and the women wear black as a sign of their grief.”
Cornish, along with other members of the First Congregational Church, wear black clothes and hold signs which say, “’Stop the violence’ and ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’”
Director of Missions at First Congregational Church, Julia Hicks holds a sign that reads, “Women In Black for peace” as she describes why it is important for women to demonstrate against war.
“Women have the least voice and are the least politically powerful in the world,” Hicks said. “They are left with poverty, no healthcare, without sons and husbands.”
As more wars continue to surface, more voices continue to be lost. The impact of war affects the families left behind as well as those on the front lines.
Hicks has a family member in the Navy who has yet to go to war.
Although there are only a handful of protestors, who attend the weekly vigils, many Cooper-Young residents wear black clothes to work on Wednesdays to show their support, Hicks said.
However, the group has faced some negative responses from bystanders. The Women In Black participants disagree with the U.S. wars waged in the name of the American people.
“We were called unpatriotic by some,” Hicks said. “I never felt afraid because all we wanted to say was ‘Not in our name.”
For many Women In Black movements across the world, women have less power to voice their concerns than those here in the U.S., but the act of protesting the war is as simple as being seen.
“The point, here, is that because women are voiceless – standing in silence and in black is the only way they can be visible,” Hicks said. “Sometimes silence speaks more than words.”
Dave Lindstrom has been a member of the First Congregational Church for 28 years. He volunteers at the Women In Black protests in solidarity with their efforts.
“I stand willingly to the back because this is a demonstration of women and I just want to show my support,” Lindstrom said.
Lindstrom has a family member in the Marines. He is concerned about the culture of capitalism and its ties to war.
“Maybe the most important thing to remember is that we live in a military society that’s controlled by corporations,” Lindstrom said. “It’s essentially a corporate oligarchy, and it’s very difficult for the people to be heard.”
Women In Black volunteer, Catherine Dixon joins the group on the front steps of the church, holding a sign that reads, “Stop the Violence.”
Dixon stands beside the others with a smile. She is most concerned about the “invisible victims of war” like women and children.
She doesn’t see her right to protest as a strictly democratic or namely American right. She sees a bigger picture.
“I am participating in our humanity – our global humanity,” Dixon said.
“Women In Black is an international movement that began when women responded to the violence in Palestine and Israel,” Cornish said. “It’s specifically a women’s witness and the women wear black as a sign of their grief.”
Cornish, along with other members of the First Congregational Church, wear black clothes and hold signs which say, “’Stop the violence’ and ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’”
Director of Missions at First Congregational Church, Julia Hicks holds a sign that reads, “Women In Black for peace” as she describes why it is important for women to demonstrate against war.
“Women have the least voice and are the least politically powerful in the world,” Hicks said. “They are left with poverty, no healthcare, without sons and husbands.”
As more wars continue to surface, more voices continue to be lost. The impact of war affects the families left behind as well as those on the front lines.
Hicks has a family member in the Navy who has yet to go to war.
Although there are only a handful of protestors, who attend the weekly vigils, many Cooper-Young residents wear black clothes to work on Wednesdays to show their support, Hicks said.
However, the group has faced some negative responses from bystanders. The Women In Black participants disagree with the U.S. wars waged in the name of the American people.
“We were called unpatriotic by some,” Hicks said. “I never felt afraid because all we wanted to say was ‘Not in our name.”
For many Women In Black movements across the world, women have less power to voice their concerns than those here in the U.S., but the act of protesting the war is as simple as being seen.
“The point, here, is that because women are voiceless – standing in silence and in black is the only way they can be visible,” Hicks said. “Sometimes silence speaks more than words.”
Dave Lindstrom has been a member of the First Congregational Church for 28 years. He volunteers at the Women In Black protests in solidarity with their efforts.
“I stand willingly to the back because this is a demonstration of women and I just want to show my support,” Lindstrom said.
Lindstrom has a family member in the Marines. He is concerned about the culture of capitalism and its ties to war.
“Maybe the most important thing to remember is that we live in a military society that’s controlled by corporations,” Lindstrom said. “It’s essentially a corporate oligarchy, and it’s very difficult for the people to be heard.”
Women In Black volunteer, Catherine Dixon joins the group on the front steps of the church, holding a sign that reads, “Stop the Violence.”
Dixon stands beside the others with a smile. She is most concerned about the “invisible victims of war” like women and children.
She doesn’t see her right to protest as a strictly democratic or namely American right. She sees a bigger picture.
“I am participating in our humanity – our global humanity,” Dixon said.
Sheifalika Bhatnagar / MicroMemphis Reporter
Sheifalika Bhatnagar covers community activism for MicroMemphis.
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Follow her @JollyGreenPress on Twitter.