East Londoners Protest the Rape and Murder of Lesbians and Transgender People
May 15, 2011
It was a kind of flashmob, I guess - not to mention proof that occasionally, Facebook activism does actually transfer out of the zone of cyberspace and powerfully into what we tend (online) to call "real life." (For more background and photos and an explanation of the agenda, go here)
So East London is sometimes (often) looked down on by the rest of the country for being backwards and stuff ... but sometimes this place can astonish a person very pleasantly indeed. Take our first ever pride march last year, for example. And today. In one hell of a rush and with considerably fewer resources than the rest of SA, our local EC LGBTI Organisation went into motion to hook the rest of us up to form a protest in the only bit of town that's guaranteed to have some people in it on a Sunday afternoon.
We met up with them and the Club Eden people (local queer club) and so on, on the open space near the esplanade, where they have the flea market (know where I mean?). Last minute placards were painted, hugs exchanged and then we formed a peaceful but vocal crowd.
It's easy to get all misty eyed at the display of solidarity, the songs and the comradeship. But will any of it change anything?
Well, Dee Love from the Quigney Journal was there, as well as a journo and photographer from the Daily Dispatch. Major-General Hloba came to represent the High Commissioner and accept the memorandum drawn up by the EC LGBTI Organisation. He also requested that the organisation assist them in rape prevention strategies.
That's local. In a broader sense, we (and by that I mean you too) need to keep the pressure on the government to get their skates on and sort out a hate crimes task force.
Sally Prins (Club Eden) and Dee Love (Quigney Journal)
Thabisa
Mfundi
Major-General Hloba and Zamanguni Mzimela (Chairperson, EC LGBTI)
Malta, from Sweden, who handed out info and explained things to interested passers-by. Thanks bro! Thanks also to the people who joined us all the way from Dimbaza - you rock.
So East London is sometimes (often) looked down on by the rest of the country for being backwards and stuff ... but sometimes this place can astonish a person very pleasantly indeed. Take our first ever pride march last year, for example. And today. In one hell of a rush and with considerably fewer resources than the rest of SA, our local EC LGBTI Organisation went into motion to hook the rest of us up to form a protest in the only bit of town that's guaranteed to have some people in it on a Sunday afternoon.
We met up with them and the Club Eden people (local queer club) and so on, on the open space near the esplanade, where they have the flea market (know where I mean?). Last minute placards were painted, hugs exchanged and then we formed a peaceful but vocal crowd.
It's easy to get all misty eyed at the display of solidarity, the songs and the comradeship. But will any of it change anything?
Well, Dee Love from the Quigney Journal was there, as well as a journo and photographer from the Daily Dispatch. Major-General Hloba came to represent the High Commissioner and accept the memorandum drawn up by the EC LGBTI Organisation. He also requested that the organisation assist them in rape prevention strategies.
That's local. In a broader sense, we (and by that I mean you too) need to keep the pressure on the government to get their skates on and sort out a hate crimes task force.
Sally Prins (Club Eden) and Dee Love (Quigney Journal)
Thabisa
Mfundi
Major-General Hloba and Zamanguni Mzimela (Chairperson, EC LGBTI)
Malta, from Sweden, who handed out info and explained things to interested passers-by. Thanks bro! Thanks also to the people who joined us all the way from Dimbaza - you rock.
Posted by ulla. Posted In : ECLGBTQ Forum
