AD Hoc Emergency MEETING: Friday 13 July, 2-5pm WISER Seminar Room

[Antje Schuhmann]

Dear all, 

As you might know, in the last 4 weeks several lesbians were killed in the Gauteng region. Various activist networks , including some of my  SPARC affiliated students initiated an ad hoc  meeting tomorrow on campus to discuss a way forward: 

FRIDAY 13 JULY

WISER Seminar room 

6th floor, Richard Ward Building

2pm - 5pm 

Please come to this meeting and distribute this invitation

In solidarity 

Antje

BELOW: 

my suggestions in response to the invitation as i am currently traveling

invitation of the student group Critical Knowledge Production Collective (SPARC) on behalf of  the network

overview of current activities in SA in response to the crisis

Dr. Antje Schuhmann

Political Studies

University of the Witwatersrand

Johannesburg

South Africa:

Cell             0027 (0)7   9651 9651

Office         0027 (0)11  717 4370

Germany:

Cell             0049 (0)179 8557016

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As i wont be able to attend the meeting as i am oversees, i would like to suggest the following: 

I feel strongly that it is time to forcefully present a strong counter culture of solidarity from within the middle of society rather then to continue to attack homophobia presented as the centre from the margins – both is important but the later has been done for a while already.

What I do suggest is, that Wits structures work in cooperation with already existing groups of activists, networks, but find their own language next to the classic tools of picketing, letter writing etc. The palestine solidarity committee did already find new forms of creating public awareness….. 

What would it mean to think of different political forms, to brainstorm what the cultural capital, the specific power of being affiliate to an institution such as WITS can bring to the network's table. As the Critical Knowledge Production Collective from SPARCs agreed  to organise a political event on contemporary issues  as part of the SPARC program the universities needs to assist such a program – may be people of "importance" should "sign"/do/perform something invited by this initiative?

Why not have a public event on campus with a "catchy" content such as  older people,  may be even pensioners, in conversation with students and staff(?) who are in support of their lesbian relatives and invite the SABC? Members of  GALA and feminist forum might have such supporting family contacts.

Why not a public day of cross dressing – opening of the new semester, first lectures in drag -  in solidarity?  in any case we will have a good debate on campus. 

Our SPARC group could run with an event end of August on "Sexual Terrorism" in global comparison and include some of the films we chose for women's month ?  

… just some ideas….

Wishing you a productive meeting

Antje

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On 10 July 2012 13:32, Kate Joseph <katej...@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear all, 

(Atti please invite the Feminist Forum too)

As yet I don't have very detailed information yet, but some activists from Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) and other organisations have contacted us regarding 

recent hate crimes committed against lesbians in the Johannesburg area - From what I have heard, A few days ago a young women was killed in Kwa Thema and later a couple was attacked.

Activists want to get together with all interested parties and discuss what we can do.

The space of the university was suggested as a place for this discussion.

Following on from our collective's last meeting in person, I thought prehaps members from the CKP collective would be particularly interested in being part of the meeting 

...in fact it almost falls into the same ambit of the workshop we were discussing with FEW and POWA though on a more pressing issue.

We are suggesting framing  the event (for the purpose of appeasing the university) as joint venture hosted by JWTC (Johannesburg Workshop in Theory in Criticism) and SPARC (meaning us in CKP).

  

As soon as I have greater detail I will send you the proper invites, but since time is very short, please do join us:

FRIDAY 13 JULY

WISER Seminar room 

6th floor, Richard Ward Building

2pm - 5pm 

Please invite others who are interested and active.

Best,

Kate

   

--
Kate Joseph

+27 (0)72 229 9613
katej...@gmail.com

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From: Kate Joseph <katej...@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <spar...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Dienstag, 10. Juli 2012 13:35
To: <spar...@googlegroups.com>, atti Wits Feminist Forum <esthe...@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: MEETING: Friday 13 July, 2-5pm WISER Seminar Room

Here is what is on fb already:

A NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION AGAINST VIOLENCE AND MURDERS TOWARDS LESBIANS, GAYS, TRANSGENDER AND INTERSEX PEOPLE.

Introduction
In your community: Action the following in your provinces

ACTIONS WHEN LEAD CONTACT
A CALL FOR ACTION MEETING

- We call on civil society to meet as a matter of urgency to mobilize actions against hate crimes and violence.
- These meetings should organize public protests against 

1. Violence and hate.

2. A call to charge Phatekile Holomisa for hate and incitement.
- Call Joint Press Conferences to condemn the murders and violent attacks on LGBTI persons.

BY 13TH JULY 2012

Virginia Setshedi – Johannesburg - 0820823059
A CALL FOR NATIONAL MOVEMENT AGAINST VIOLENCE AND HATE CRIMES
28-30 JULY 2012 - Johannesburg, Venue TBA Contact : Phindi Malaza – 011 403 1966/7

Groups
Eastern Cape LGBTI
Cape Town LGBTI Org
Limpopo
Vaal
Soweto –
EIHAWU
PUSH- Kliptown
Uthingo – Daveyton
EPOC
NGO’s - JWG

National Call to Action – March OR Picket.

Focus on the 67 minutes of Mandela. We call on you to do the following:

1. Join the Picket in front of Luthuli House – The ANC is the ruling Party, thus far the ANC has been silent of the statements made by Phatekile Holomisa a member of the ANC. We demand a response against crimes, incited by Holomisa by the ANC. (see memorandum).

The ANC’s Gender Policy excludes sexual orientation. We want to include an LGBTI delegation into the Mangaung Conference.

- Organise a similar picket at your ANC Provincial Offices
2. Target your National and Provincial Police Commissioner by organizing a picket and handing over a memorandum – (see memorandum)

3. Write a letter/email to:
Minister of Justice
National Police Commissioner and
President
ANC Luthuli House, 54 Sauer Street, Jhb
– 18 July 2012 at 10h00 – 13h00. Phindi Malaza, Dikeledi Dikeledi Deekay Sibanda, Lesego Masike, for the Pickets

Jabu Pereira

Jabu Pereira

Actions When Lead Contact
4. National Vigil at 6pm for 67 minutes across South Africa and the world. In memory of LGBTI persons killed in hate crimes. Candles- commemoration 18 July 2012
6pm – Mary Fritzgerald Johannesburg
Phindi – 011 4031906/7
Provincial LBGT Contact 

[Danai Mupotsa]

Hey Antje,

I am not in the country so I will miss this meeting. Please keep me posted, I would like to commit myself to do what I can.
D