Journeys to democracy

This weekend, starting with 21 September 2019, the UN International Day of Peace, marks a series of events taking place in cities around the world in solidarity with Kashmiris.

In Boston, women in red Pherans, the traditional attire of Kashmiri men and women now symbolizing the Kashmiris’ spirit of resistance and defiance, will be among the peace loving South Asians and friends standing to demand that the Indian government immediately restore communication in Kashmir, remove the draconian measures enforced in the name of security and order, and respect Kashmiris’ right of self-determination. The Red Pherans reflect a now iconic image, the story of which was covered recently by NPR news.

September 21 marks Day 48 of the unprecedented and total communications blackout for eight million Kashmiris enforced on them by the Indian government. Kashmiris, living in the most militarized region on earth, now fear that the present communications blackout is part of a larger plan to “ethnically cleanse” Kashmir. 

Rejecting the territorial claims of both India and Pakistan on Kashmir, these peaceful, largely silent protests for the rights of the Kashmiri people will not carry flags of any nation or state.

Cities taking part this weekend include Boston, New York, Washington DC, San Francisco in the USA, and Oslo (Norway), Malmo (Sweden), Kolkata (India), Islamabad (Pakistan), Kathmandu (Nepal) among others, coordinated by the coalition Global Standout for Peace in solidarity with #StandWithKashmir.

— Joint press statement for all venues

Filed under: Art and activism, Human rights, Kashmir, Pakistan-India, Peace | Tagged: #StandwithKashmir, India, Pakistan |