News Round-Up 3/3

On Tuesday in class, wr1tergirl, TheTalker, and lunarletters covered topics in local, national, and global news. These topics covered what’s occurring in politics, other territories including Iran, and history being honored in local spaces. We discussed the SAVE Act and how it would impact women and marginalized groups, Iranian feminists coming together during a tragic time of war and terror, and the addition of a statue of Civil Rights activist Barbara Johns.

Local

Last month, the Virginia Museum of History and Culture made great strides in diversifying the figures they celebrate by unveiling a statue of Barbara Johns. Johns was a 16 year old civil rights leader from Farmville, VA whose continued mobilization efforts caught the attention of the Virginia ACLU. Her challenge went on to be the only student initiated case incorporated under the umbrella of Brown v. Board of Education. The memorialization of Johns is complicated when considering the fact that her statue has been erected to replace one of Confederate general Robert E. Lee. Despite growing public contempt towards confederate monuments, 685 still stand, with disproportionate amounts being found in formerly Confederate states. Even still, Johns’ statue represents a moment of great progress for Virginia. It’s hard to imagine a figure more worthy than Johns, a student who went so far as to forge memos from her principal to rally her peers for a glorious protest.

National

The Senate is preparing to vote on the SAVE (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) Act, which, if passed, would require all voters to provide documentation (i.e. a passport or birth certificate) to register or update their voter registration. This means identification (including REAL IDs) would no longer be valid. If passed, this Act poses a threat to women, transgender individuals, and those in marginalized communities. While the Act was introduced to combat voter fraud, it has been proven that those problems are virtually nonexistent. Instead, it would present more barriers for individuals to vote, as the legislation would require a passport or birth certificate that aligns with the name on the voter’s current identification. This would also make it harder for women, people of color, young people, and low-income Americans to vote, as they’re less likely to have passports or immediate access to original birth certificates. This broadens the scope of the harm this Act could cause, relating to income, education, and race. 

Global

“Iranian Feminists Urge the World to ‘Join Hands With Us’” discusses a group of Iranian feminists in the Diaspora who call on feminists worldwide for solidarity. In December of last year, protests against the Iranian regime took place against the economic crisis and authoritarian leaders. In response, Iranians were met with internet shutdowns, mass arrests, and lethal violence. In their feminist call-out, they highlight Iranian’s wish to overthrow the Republic, discussing corruption, violence, and killings they’re victims of. They urge feminists worldwide to get involved, stating, “If feminism means standing against violence, tyranny, and injustice, then today, Iran is one of its central frontlines”.