While I was paying attention to the recent election, my wife, who is now a Karate instructor for an all-woman/transgender dojo, has been paying attention to this.

From Joy:

So briefly, there have been a series of assaults in the south Slope, Greenwood Heights, Windsor Terrace and Sunset Park - some attempted rapes and one rape. In response to perceived or actual lack of interest on the part of the cops (for instance, there was a video of one of the attacks, and they were unwilling to look at it), the community got together to pressure local electeds to take some action. People (not sure exactly who) went to a community/police meeting last night, and tonight there is a rally, described below. Brad Lander and Sara Gonzalez asked CAE to hold some workshops, so we are holding three (will send a separate email describing those) - one at the dojo, and two in Sunset Park. One will be in Spanish and English.

Tracy and the dojo have been on the news twice so far - once on ABC (will send you the link), and once on NBC.

The news clips...with ads, of course.  read more »

This was sent to me by my wife...will post a bigger diary on the issue per se when I get the chance, but for now here is an important action item for tonight, Wed. Sept. 14th:

"Take Back Our Streets" rally on Wednesday, September 14th

We are organizing a "Take Back Our Streets" rally on Wednesday, September
14th. We want to come together as a community to speak out against recent
assaults and attempted assaults in South Slope/Park Slope/Windsor
Terrace/Greenwood Heights and surrounding areas.

Meet at 8:00 P.M. outside of the Prospect Avenue R Stop (4th Avenue and 17th
Street). We will march along 4th and 5th avenues and proceed to Detective
Joseph Mayrose Park (17th Street and 7th Avenue) by 9:00 P.M., where there
will be speakers, a self-defense class demonstration, and a vigil.

Bring candles, flashlights, and glowsticks. Signs are welcome, too.

Rain Date: Wednesday, September 21st

You can email us at: safeslope@gmail.com

Event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169865573091757

This is one of those things that make me SO glad that Obama is our President. And it is the kind of thing that most people won't even be aware of, but it will help some of America's most victimized people.

Most Americans barely realize the levels of rape and domestic violence directed against Native American women. In some cases it is violence committed within the tribal community. But all too often it is rape committed by outsiders, a major problem that Amnesty International drew our attention to some years back. Too often the criminal justice system makes it impossible for rapists from outside the tribal community to be brought to justice. From Amnesty International:

"Maze of Injustice: The Failure to Protect Indigenous Women from Sexual Violence in the USA"

A Summary of Amnesty International's Findings  read more »

Earlier this month I read of the case of a former Hassidim woman who was in the middle of a sexual abuse case against her father. The now 27 year-old was a sex slave of her father who first raped her at the tender age of 9. For 18 years she not only was robbed of her childhood, but was robbed of her humanity by a monster that was supposed to care for her and cherish her as her father.

This is not an isolated case, but it's been hard for child rape and pedophilia victims to get the word out and bring their abusers to justice. The Hasidim's cultural insularity makes it incredibly difficult for victims to seek justice or to find help, but that wall of silence around the community is starting to crumble. The bashing of that wall is coming from the community itself but it's meeting a lot of resistance.

Word is out that Orthodox Jewish and Hasidim organizations have created a lobby coalition against the passage of the Child Victims Act:  read more »

I have brought up the Pretty Bird Woman House Woman's Shelter on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation when I discussed the horrific Amnesty International report on the high incidence of rapes of Native American women by outsiders who seldom get procecuted. This shelter's sad story has continued. It was vandalized and is not being sold off. This will leave many women on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation with no support system. On Daily Kos a fundraiser is being held to raise enough money to buy the property and set it up to be a safe and secure women's shelter again.

I am asking you to help out. I donated $100. Some are donating as much as $500. This is pure, old fashioned good works in keeping with the holiday season.

From Daily Kos:  read more »