Sisters Uncut

Sisters Uncut
Founded November 2014
Type Activist group
Focus Anti-austerity, Feminism, Intersectionality, Domestic violence, Trans feminism, Black feminism, Working class feminism,
Location
Method Demonstration, Direct action, Civil disobedience, Community work
Website https://sistersuncut.wordpress.com

Sisters Uncut is a British feminist direct action group that is opposed to cuts to UK government services for domestic violence victims. It was founded in November 2014. Its gender inclusion policy states that "the group is open to all women (trans, intersex and cis), all those who experience oppression as women (including non-binary and gender non-conforming people) and all those who identify as women for the purpose of political organising".[1] The group aims to organise non-hierarchically and uses consensus decision-making.

Background and founding

In a situation in which two British women a week are killed by a current or former partner,[2] the British government under Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron cut funding for domestic violence services, leading to concern from groups such as the Women's Aid Federation of England that the cuts could leave victims of abuse with no ability to escape their abusers.[3] It became a point of contention in the 2015 General Election, with major parties making election promises related to domestic violence services.[4]

The group was founded in November 2014 by women from the group UK Uncut, and its name is a reference to that group.[5] From its founding the group has been non-partisan.

Activism

The group held its first sisters-only protest in London on Valentine's Day 2015.[6][7]

On the May 4th May Day bank holiday the group staged a demonstration and occupied the roof of the London Councils building and set off smoke flares in the street.[8][9][10]

On June 20 Sisters Uncut attended the People's Assembly Against Austerity national demonstration against austerity and the Tory government.

On August 1, 2015 the group held a march through Kensington to the Daily Mail headquarters and burned copies of the newspaper to protest the "anti-migrant propaganda" of that newspaper.[11] The paper had called for British troops to be sent to Calais refugee camps to stop migrants reaching the UK.[12]

On August 8, 2015 members of Sisters Uncut along with other groups - including Movement for Justice By Any Means Necessary - protested at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre to demand an end to immigration detention and an end to abuse of migrant women that takes place inside of them. Sisters Uncut organises intersectionally and see the struggle against racism and borders as intimately connected to the struggle against violence women face.[13]

On August 9, 2015 Sisters Uncut joined other activist groups in a remembrance gathering for Michael Brown,[14] who was shot and killed by officer Darren Wilson on August 9, 2014 in Ferguson. Sisters Uncut support anti-police brutality campaigns and see a connection between state violence against women and state violence against people of colour.

On the 12th September, 2015 Sisters Uncut attended the 100,000 strong demonstration in solidarity with migrants fleeing war-torn countries. They held a sit-in outside of Downing Street (the residence of the British Prime Minister) alongside activist groups Black Dissidents and The London Latinxs.[15]

On the 19th September, 2015 Sisters Uncut joined Focus E15 Mothers campaign in demanding the government provides working-class people with social housing and puts controls on landlords and rents. Linking the issue of housing and austerity to violence against women, they chanted "How can she get away, when she's got nowhere to stay. You cut her benefits, and you took her job away".

Sisters Uncut came to international prominence after demonstrating at the October 7 London premiere of the 2015 film Suffragette against cuts to domestic violence services.[16][17] Their tagline was "Dead women can't vote". The film's star Helena Bonham-Carter described the protest as "perfect.. If you feel strongly enough about something and there's an injustice there you can speak out and try to get something changed". Carey Mulligan, another actress who performed in the film, said that the protest was "awesome" and that she was sad she had missed it.[18]

On Friday 16 October 2015 Sisters Uncut joined The London Latinxs and Black Dissidents in organising a demonstration that caused severe delays to the Eurostar rail line at St Pancras International station.[19] Migrant solidarity work plays a central role in the work of Sisters Uncut out of the belief violence against women is intimately connected to racism and xenophobia.

On 31st October 2015 Sisters Uncut attended the annual United Families and Friends Campaign march against deaths in police custody in the UK. Believing that state violence is connected to interpersonal violence, Sisters Uncut support the struggles of families seeking justice for a death in custody.

On the 21st November 2015 Sisters Uncut joined staff and service users of Apna Haq (a specialist BME domestic violence service in Rotherham) to protest the funding cuts that threaten to lead to the closure of the service. [20]

On the 28th November 2015 Sisters Uncut hosted a funeral march and dyed the fountains in Trafalgar Square red to symbolism the blood of women who are murdered at the hands of abusive partners. This was their biggest street march, which was attended by around 500 women and non-binary people. The date was chosen to coincide with the week George Osborne delivered his Autumn Budget where, Sisters Uncut argue, cuts and policy were announced that would have a devastating effect on survivors of domestic violence. This action marked their final protest of 2015. [21]

Activism in Portsmouth

On the 8th December 2015 Sisters Uncut joined local activists, service workers and domestic violence survivors in a rally outside Portsmouth Guildhall to protest the proposed £180, 000 cuts to domestic violence services proposed by Portsmouth City Council. Sisters Uncut then went on to shut down the council meeting by unfurling a banner that read cuts to domestic violence services kills women and chanting "they cut, we bleed".[22]

Out of this protest a local Portsmouth Sisters Uncut group was formed and launched in January.

9th February Council Meeting Protest and Arrest

On the 9th of February 2016, Sisters Uncut London groups and Portsmouth chapter held a second rally outside Portsmouth Guildhall where the final decision about the proposed cuts was to be decided. They staged a "die-in" on the steps of the Guildhall to represent the women who die due to domestic violence and not having access to safe services.

During the council meeting on the 9th, Sisters Uncut released 4, 745 pieces of confetti to symbolise the number of recorded instances of domestic violence in Portsmouth in 2014.

One member of Sisters Uncut was targeted by security and police for releasing the confetti in the meeting. Commenting on the arrest, a member of Sisters Uncut said:

It’s outrageous that throwing confetti is considered to be a crime, yet decimating life-saving domestic violence support services is not. The councillors who want to make these cuts are the real criminals here.[23]

Regional Growth of Sisters Uncut

In January Sisters Uncut announced that Portsmouth Sisters Uncut would be its first regional group outside of London. At the beginning of February Sisters Uncut announced that it would be splitting it's London group into 3 separate, mostly autonomous groups based in North, East and South London. The momentum for this expansion came from the group's rapid growth in 2015 and the group's decision to move more towards community based organising. They are also working on setting up groups elsewhere around the UK.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "FAQs". sisters uncut. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  2. ↑ Sanghani, Radhika Nearly half of British women killed by men die at the hands of partners February 12, 2015 The Telegraph Retrieved October 8, 2015
  3. ↑ Neate, Polly 'Domestic violence refuge cuts could leave victims trapped near their perpetrators' September 4, 2015 The Telegraph Retrieved October 8, 2015
  4. ↑ Neate, Polly Domestic violence is on the political agenda like never before April 17, 2015 Retrieved October 8, 2015
  5. ↑ Guest blog: Sisters Uncut October 23, 2014 UK Uncut blog Retrieved October 8, 2015
  6. ↑ O'Hagan, Ellie Mae In 2014 feminists spoke up. This year we’re taking to the streets January 29, 2015 The Guardian Retrieved October 8, 2015
  7. ↑ Stephenson, Janey Kickstarting a new anti-austerity feminism to protect victims of domestic violence February 23, 2015 Left Foot Forward Retrieved October 8, 2015
  8. ↑ Rucki, Alexandra Feminists occupy roof of London Councils building and set off smoke flares to highlight cuts to domestic violence services May 4, 2015 Evening Standard Retrieved October 8, 2015
  9. ↑ Boland, Stephanie Anti-austerity women shut down a London street May 4, 2015 New Statesman Retrieved October 8, 2015
  10. ↑ Richardson Andrew, Charlotte A refuge provided safety for me and my family, others are not so lucky now May 7, 2015 The Guardian Retrieved October 8, 2015
  11. ↑ Hutchins, Liz Burning the Daily Mail with Sisters Uncut August 3, 2015 Retrieved October 8, 2015
  12. ↑ Ramiro, Joana Shocked Paper’s Jitters As Protest Burns Mail Copies August 3, 2015 Morning Star Retrieved October 8, 2015
  13. ↑ McGuirk, Siobhan Video report: Shut down Yarl’s Wood! August 2015 Red Pepper Retrieved October 8, 2015
  14. ↑ "PressTV - ‘Black Lives Matter’ demo outside US Embassy in London". www.presstv.ir. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  15. ↑ Video:London: Sit-in protesters voice support for refugees September 12, 2015 Citizenside Retrieved October 8, 2015
  16. ↑ Baker, Keiligh Suffragette premiere is invaded by domestic violence campaigners October 7, 2015 Daily Mail Retrieved October 8, 2015
  17. ↑ Warren, Rossalyn Women Stormed The “Suffragette” Movie Premiere Saying The Feminist Struggle Isn’t Over October 8, 2015 Buzzfeed Retrieved October 8, 2015
  18. ↑ Gander, Kashmira & Townsend, Megan Suffragette premiere: Protesters lie on red carpet in demonstration against cuts to domestic violence services October 7, 2015 The Independent Retrieved October 8, 2015
  19. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-34555076#_=_
  20. ↑ https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/keep-apna-haq-open-in-rotherham
  21. ↑ Gayle, Damien (2015-11-28). "Trafalgar Square runs red with 'blood' in domestic violence cuts protest". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  22. ↑ "Sisters Uncut 'shut down' a council meeting where members were discussing £180,000 of cuts to domestic violence services". The Independent. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  23. ↑ "Sisters Uncut: PRESS RELEASE: Sisters Uncut activist arrested after throwing confetti". Sisters Uncut. Retrieved 2016-02-12.

External links

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