Stop Violence Against Women? - its in the hands of the State : Melbourne Indymedia

I was assaulted by four men on the weekend. One grabbed my arm and pulled
me to the ground. One placed both hands on my chest and pushed, and pushed
until I fell back. One punched me in the face. And One struck me
repeatedly with a long pole.

I was assaulted by four men on the weekend, and now I walk the streets
afraid. I cant walk alone. I cant be in crowds. I begin to shake when I
see men that look like my attackers.

I was assaulted by four men on the weekend, and now I receive looks of
pity in response to my injuries: Right cheek: swelling, tenderness, slight
discoloring; Left Upper Arm: Large swelling, bruising - 28x17cms; Left
Upper Ribs: tenderness, bruising - 13x8 cms. I went to the hospital to
X-ray my ribs and was asked: "did you take a bit of a fall?"

I was assaulted by four men on the weekend, but its okay. Because they
were police. And just Doing Their Job.

I have a number of complaints about events during and beyond the G20
protests in Melbourne. That the property damage caused by a small
contingent of protesters was somehow more devastating than the real
violence enacted by police. That the protesters have been vilified,
described variously as being from interstate, and being from overseas. A
highly trained violent guerilla army, a group of individuals acting to
suit their own agendas. Anarchists, socialists, individualists. So many
labels, so much sensationalism from all angles. Right-wing corporate media
publishing photos of peaceful protesters and a dial-a-thug hotline.
Left-wing groups putting out calls for the "real left" to isolate these
demonstrators. And not a skerrick of truth or perspective amongst them.

At the end of the day, police used extreme force to threaten and injure
peaceful protesters. Large groups of predominately male police against
small groups of predominately female community members. This is nothing
more than state-sponsored violence against women.

It is not the job of police to assault members of the community. Under any
circumstances. It is the role of the police to protect individuals from
harm. Under every circumstance. (Yes, even when big business comes to
town).

I will share with you two particular examples of this state-sponsored
violence against women. One night a pink Cadillac, freshly painted,
planted with seedlings of endangered species and equipped with a
solar-powered sound system, parked itself outside Parliament House. Two
women locked-on. The police forbade moving the car beyond this point. And
so, for 5 hours the car and its chaperones celebrated in the streets -
much dancing was had. Until the police returned, wielding batons and
throwing people away from the car. One woman was pushed to the ground by
four male police officers, kicked in the ribs and beaten with batons. She
suffered (among other things) a heavy concussion. Another police officer
removed his badge before punching me in the face, threatening to "clean me
up".

The next day a small group of musicians (mainly students, and again mainly
women) congregated outside the Melbourne Museum to greet G20-delegates on
their day trip. The women played their music and danced in the doorways of
the museum, until, without prior notice, the police charged. One woman
fell to the ground, convulsing, and had to be carried away as the police
still chased with batons. Reinforcements were called - our small group of
women was soon met with a force of approx 100 police, and 250 riot police.
We left once the ambulance had arrived (which the police had refused to
call) and were marched blocks away.

Is this what a police state looks like?

Community groups and governments alike run public campaigns to Stop
Violence Against Women. Yet no one seems to acknowledge the violence that
women often meet at the hands of the State. Violence that occurs when
groups of men come to break up a protest, action, or blockade held by
women. Violence that is perpetrated against women held in custody (be it
short term or long). Psychological Violence - the threat of aggression,
the fear to walk the streets, the uncertainty over what could happen to
you. Physical violence - being chased, beaten, kicked.

I have heard too many stories of women that have been assaulted at the
hands of the State. This violence is not isolated to the convergence
against G20 (when we are supposed to have expected it). Women at
environmental rallies who without warning have been charged by
baton-wielding police. Women demonstrators named "Slut". "Cunt". "Whore".
Women incarcerated and beaten by their jailor. Separated from friends.
Taunted.

International Law directs the State to protect women from violence and the
threat of violence. In 1993 the UN adopted the Declaration on the
Elimination of Violence against Women, which addresses violence against
women as a human rights violation. Women’s right to be free from violence
is also set out in General Recommendation No. 19 of the Committee on the
Elimination of Discrimination against Women. (1)
The International community demands that:
1. States must respect rights. Government officials, or those acting with
the authorization of the state, must not commit acts of violence against
women.
2. States must protect women’s rights. The state and its agents must take
effective measures to prevent other individuals or groups (including
private enterprises and corporations) from violating the human rights of
women.
3. States must also fulfill women’s rights. States must ensure the
appropriate infrastructure to support laws, policies and practices to
eliminate violence against women. States are expected to report on the
progress of such laws and policies and to modify features that are
ineffective. (2)

Eliminating State-Sponsored Violence Against Women is clearly yet another
expectation from the International community that Australia has chosen to
disregard.

My body is my own - I will not lose it to the state.

I was assaulted by four men on the weekend, and its not okay.

(1) http://web.amnesty.org/actforwomen/justice-5-eng
(2) http://web.amnesty.org/actforwomen/justice-3-eng

Good on ya for putting that information and pix up on indymedia.
Did you and your mates get to the MCG or Federation Square today ?
There was some good percussion music happening and i also heard there was some other performers amongst the crowd I alas missed.

Anyway keep on speaking out and exposing the violence.

Guess what -- you don't get some special exemption from violence just because you've got a cunt.

Violence is violence, makes no difference if it's wome or men on the receiving end.

Take this sexist garbage and shove it.

Don't forget that while the state provides the racist sexist violent corrupt pig force almost the entire official left joined in the jingo lunar rightwing howl for blood following the battle for the Berlin end of collins st.

The pigs were sooled on by the Marxist left who are now almost all revisionist and reactionary.

Does anyone have any local Marxist links to recent articles condemming so-called Sharia law btw?

Silence in these deadly sexist matters is often taken as assent I think.

It's easy to say but don't let fear consolidate a place in yourself.

I previously commented that only a short time before the g20 violence that the STATE condemned a muslim man for saying inappropriate things against women, and then the STATE then attacks them. you are always vulnerable no matter what anyone says.

one who to hits (and injures) someone who is vulnerable SHOWS that they do not know and will never know what strength is, so there is no need to fear them. we acquire strength by NOT injuring others and by downplaying the injuries we ourselves endure
(one way to do this is re-affirm to yourself that others have endured injuries, more serious than our own)

power can never exist in anyone, a person can only become acquainted with power and not assume that you own it. power and death have their biggest laugh when they destroy someone who injures or destroys others.

but employing fear to gain power is exceptionally dangerous. this only strengthens those who have injured you and provokes them to finish what they have started.

I don't know about the last post but in relation to the Women seeking justice.

Some people used to come up to me and say that they want to start a girls club.

I go that's okay!

Some people used to come up to me and say that they want to start a boys club.

I go that's okay!

Because why? Not because I agree with their choice of club like the chess club, but because they are helping.

Please help the women so they can help the men? First place to start would be not abusing them.

Second place to start is join the 'people club' when you're ready of course.

But while we're waiting for you I think the above article was absolutely fantastic darling.

+100 points!

The state cannot and I repeat cannot perpetrate violence and jail people for the very same offence because it's not leading by example, teaching the community nothing but bad habits and in fact a contradiction in term.

Politicians were not elected on any violence against the community platform that I am awar of.

What you have been through is awful, but I congratulate you and your women friends for standing up the way you did. Your courage in the face of police thugs on the two days is only surpassed by your courage in speaking out about it, without denying your moral principles. There are two many do-goody activists out there who dont understand civil disobedience as a response to oppression. Fortunately, though, I think the days of their hegemony over activism are numbered, thanks to people like yourself and your compatriots. Best wishes for your recovery and I hope you are cared for well during this time.

Make Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commision do some work !!!

Complain of assault, sexism and violation of rights to protest under the Geneva convention instruments ratified by Australia.

Fetishes and right wing politics - hand in glove
by © ® ™ Thursday November 30, 2006 at 05:29 PM

Is that pic from your personal collection Chris? The one on your work computer?

add your comments

PS
by me again Thursday November 30, 2006 at 05:43 PM

Re : fetishes, Especially S + M, Bondage etc.

Anything which involves mindless cruelty and inflicting pain is right up your passage so to speak.

I remember that Tory in England...dressed in ladies lingerie, plastic bag on head, snuffed himself. Hutchence was probably trying to become a Tory when he killed himself.

You should try it, you'd help us all out.

We should be careful in differentiating between 'violence' with the legitimate 'correction' of a woman's errant behaviour.

A well placed set of cuts across her bum with a medium to light cane will bring all but the most hardedned bitch to her senses and her rightful station in life.

Rudeness (particularly in the presence of her man's friends), tardiness with meals and improper ironing of shirts reflect female behaviour best corrected by a dose of the cane.

This is not violence, dear friends. It is legitimate correction which the woman will thank her man for in due course.

Best a sore bum now than a failed marriage because a woman is allowed to fall into disrespect and laziness.

i am sick to death of feminists special pleading. victim. victim, victim. men at demonstrations, as well as in the real world, are the overwhelming victims of violence. men die earlier, are more likely do drop out of education, to commit suicide, to die from drugs and alcohol, to die in accidents, more likely to be in prison, more likely to be assaulted by the police and in the streets, and you still fucking whinge.

look in a mirror you self-pitying fuck!

i have to agree with the colonel about som elegit correction. my former bitch needed correction every week so it was over to touch her toes and across her butt with the strap. didn't mark like a cane but christ she knew she'd done wrong!

Not that I disagree with anything you said (in essence) verona, its just, as a male, it really shits me that we still hold onto sexist attitudes regarding violence. I too have been beaten up by the police, but nobody expresses much outrage about that because I have a penis between my legs, and as such, must of deserved it. Why does a woman being hit by a man inspire such outrage and sharp intakes of breath, whilst men bashing men or even WOMEN bashing men is, although not acceptable, you must admit, MORE acceptable.
I must admit though, you will draw more attention to police brutality through narrowing the victims down to females, and this in itself is injustice.
I have been in an abusive relationship, where my girlfriend kicked me in the nuts and threw plates at me etc, smashed a bottle of wine over my head (requiring 8 stitches) and all sorts of things before i did what i should of done long before and left her. When I attempted to dob her in to the aforesaid police, who were called by a nurse to the hospital, they just said things to the effect of "she sounds like a psycho mate, leave town" and laughed at me, which was a great help.
And yet, if i had of lifted a finger against her, those same police would have hauled my arse into the fishtank and sent me to court, i'd get an AVO and lose my right to have quite a few jobs.
And then those same police would go and beat the shit out of verona on the weekend.
Its a fucking strange country and world, aint it?

Jex, you got it so right!

I guess it's why rule number 1 is: Don't get caught.

Violence is used as a means of reppression against others. It is used against women and men, and those who identify as neither. It always sucks and we should ALL be working for a society where NOONE has to live in fear, and fellas, that means you as well... for everyone.

The fact remains that we live in a deeply patriarchal society where the majority of structural power is held by women and the majority of violence is directed at women. Worthwhile remembering that the most common cause of death for an Australian women b/n 18 and 40 is to be killed by her husband. It's also telling that so many indymedia readers (or trolls) are open and outspoken advocates of domestic violence. Those people are sickening little worms.

Anyone who thinks the state protects women against violence is obviously unaccustomed to research or critical thinking - check ya facts. The vast majority of domestic violence and rape is unreported, and of that which is reported, little is investigated and even less gains a conviction (then sentencing is pitifully lax for men who murder, beat or rape women). Wake up. The law was written by white privileged men for white privileged men (probably rather like those writing inane comments under this article). It is as patriarchal as the dominant society we live in. Our politicians see fit to joke about violence against women - remember Abbott's 'things that batter' quib.

Now get your shit together, show some solidarity and start your anti-patriarchy working group today.

peaceful protest blah blah blah...

if there's a protest moving towards a blockade of policemen, you can't honestly suggest for a second that it's peaceful. it is the job of the police to secure events such as the G20, and when there is a large mob of people moving towards the police line threatening to break it, whether they are violent or not does not change the fact that they are no longer peaceful.

the fact that you are a woman changes nothing either. you are an adult and whether or not you have a y chromosome doesn't change the fact that you are responsible for your actions.

don't join a mob unless you intend on being held accountable for the actions of the mob as opposed to your own. do some research on crowd psychology for more info on mobs.

in the meanwhile i've said enough. i can't even believe this stuff gets published, even on the net.

Verona, i don't belive a word you written AND

the pictures are definitely arranged, like in good teatre.

It is all a figment of Veronas imagination - she is just fine if she wants to...

The Great Huie will forgive you, little acctress you...

Men Kill, Rape, Molest, Abuse, Torture etc. etc. women, children and other men far more than woman. Whilst men can be victims of violence caused by women it is usually non-life threatening, less severe and often in self defense. The use of violence is to attain power which one has NOT.
As for all the pathetic, bitter, self-indulgent, misogynist comments made towards women, what can I say? Is it any wonder why this World is so fucked up. Save your energy and go feed the kids, clean the house and cook dinner. Your opinions and comments are as useful as your cum rags.