Solidarity Statement

As an organization that is committed to promoting feminism, inclusivity, and antiracism, The Coalition of Women in German reaches out to all members in solidarity and support following the results of the 2016 US presidential election. In lieu of celebrating the election of our first female president, in the forty-fifth presidency we face a man who won by promoting misogyny, bigotry, racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and an exploitative attitude toward the environment.

As feminist educators of German language, culture, and identity, we find these historical reminders of political intolerance and inhumanity against marginalized groups all too familiar. We herewith commit to stand in solidarity with all vulnerable and targeted groups in society, especially those affected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (daca) immigration policy, the lgbtq community, Muslims, Jews, racial minorities, religious minorities, people with disabilities, women, and those threatened by environmental destruction. We will actively work to protect and speak out in support of those who feel vulnerable and unsafe in our society.

Now more than ever, we feel the urgency of feminist work—in the classroom, in our scholarship, at our institutions, and in our communities. We urge members to commit to activism, to defend human rights and civil liberties, to stand up to bigotry, and to act as allies to marginalized groups. Contact your local and state representatives to encourage them to engage in actions that promote equality, diversity, and respect in our communities. As an organization, we propose fund-raising donations for the following organizations: Planned Parenthood, American Civil Liberties Union, local Black Lives Matter chapters, Standing Rock Sioux (#NoDAPL), Southern Poverty Law Center, Sylvia Rivera Law Project, National Resources Defense Council, and the Council for American-Islamic Relations.

November 2016