Women in Struggle-Mujeres en Lucha: End colonialism and neocolonialism!

Statement from Maggie Vascassenno of Women in Struggle-Mujeres en Lucha presented to the International Conference for the Eradication of Colonialism, which was held in Abuja, Nigeria, from August 12-13, 2024.

Women in Struggle-Mujeres en Lucha is an anti-imperialist organization of women and oppressed genders based in the U.S. and affiliated with the Women’s International Democratic Federation (FDIM/WIDF). We salute and congratulate the organizers, SIRA – Society for International Relations Awareness, for the “Eradication of Colonialism” conference and express our full solidarity to all organizations and forces fighting to end colonialism and neocolonialism.

Women In Struggle is inspired by and in solidarity with the young people and workers here in Abuja and cities throughout Nigeria who are fighting against soaring inflation, hunger, and poverty. We demand an end to the brutal repression, which includes not only the deaths of those fighting against capitalist price gouging but also the mass jailings in Nigeria. We embrace the demands of the mass movement #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.

The courageous spirit of the youth in Nigeria today is rooted in the historic militancy of African peoples against colonialism and oppression. For generations, Africans have been in solidarity with Palestine. South Africa has waged one of the most important battles against the genocide and war crimes of Israel in Gaza by leading the international struggle in the U.N. against the Israeli genocide. A genocide bought and paid for by U.S. imperialism. For more than 75 years, the Palestinian people have resisted the colonial efforts of the Zionist entity. 

The heroic Palestinian resistance and the international solidarity movement, of mainly students and youth, numbering in the millions on every continent, north to south and east to west, has shown, no matter the depths of depravity of the Israeli Occupation Forces, especially against women, children, and prisoners, the Palestinian people will win. From the river to the sea. 

Women In Struggle demands U.S. AFRICOM out of Africa now! We stand with our African comrades who have resisted colonialism for hundreds of years – from Southern Africa to Congo and Egypt and from Kenya to the Western Sahara & Guinea Bissau. And we extend our solidarity to President Nicholas Maduro and the Venezuelan people. The U.S. is employing all of its arsenal of deceit and deception to undermine Venezuela’s sovereignty, including its ongoing use of sanctions and attempted coups. We demand U.S. hands off of Venezuela.

As a women’s organization fighting in the United States, the belly of the beast, our main role is to bring down U.S. imperialism – in the interests of workers and the poor worldwide – particularly women, children, and oppressed genders who suffer doubly from capitalist and imperialist oppression. 

Down with U.S. imperialism!  End colonialism, neocolonialism, and occupation!