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Organizing Against Violence:
An Anti-Racist and Anti-Sexist Perspective
Yasmin Jiwani, Ph.D.
Feminist Research, Education, Development and Action (FREDA)
The recent tragic massacre of the Gakhal and Saran families
in Vernon brought to the forefront, once again, the horror
of violence against women and children. It also signified
how societal systems fail to protect women from abusive partners.
What marked the Vernon massacre from the daily acts of violence
against women and children was its premeditated nature and
the fact that the murderer ruthlessly shot an entire family.
Two aspects of the Vernon massacre captured the media's
attention: The cultural background of the victims, and the
magnitude and suddenness of the event. These factors provide
one possible explanation as to why the media has not, so far,
paid attention to the systematic murders of women in the Vancouver
Downtown Eastside. More than 118 women have been killed in
this area over the last four years. Nor has the media focused
attention on the endemic nature of violence in Canadian society.
As recent statistics note, a women is assaulted every 17 minutes,
and more than 120 women are killed every year by their partners
and ex-partners.
The framing of the Vernon massacre as an ethnic phenomenon
and the media's attitude of blaming the victim, Rajwar Gakhal,
for not pressing charges, greatly disturbed South Asian women.
This combined with the blatant failure of the RCMP to enforce
the Attorney General's policy on violence against women in
relationships galvanized the formation of a coalition. The
Coalition of South Asian Women Against Violence included South
Asian women's groups, as well as South Asian women from allied
feminist organizations. In particular, the coalition was comprised
of the India Mahila Association (IMA), the South Asian Women's
Centre, the Indo-Canadian Women's Association, the Punjabi
Women's Association, and representatives from the Vancouver
Status of Women (VSW), Surrey Delta Immigrant Services Society,
Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW), and the Feminist
Research, Education, Development and Action Centre (FREDA),
among others.
This is not the first time that the coalition has come together.
In 1993, the coalition was brought together to counter the
sexist and racist stereotyping of the South Asian community.
In that instance, the coalition was opposed to the media's
portrayal of the South Asian community as the only community
which favoured male children and which used sex selection
technology- a technology deliberately targeted to the community
by Dr. Stephens.
Steps in Organizing
The Coalition first organized a meeting. Women from the
community and supporting organizations came together to share
information about the massacre. It was critical that everyone
participating in the meeting knew the whole story as media
accounts tended to be short on detail. A strategy for action
was developed. The aim was to debunk the media stereotyping
of the massacre as being somehow linked to culture. More importantly,
we wanted to express our collective grief. As a result, the
Coalition undertook to organize two events - the first being
a vigil to commemorate those who had died as a result of this
violent incident, and the second, a press conference. This
would provide us with a venue where we could articulate our
opposition to the cultural framing of the massacre, and draw
attention to the RCMP's failure to enforce policy.
We then formed two separate committees, each entrusted with
organizing the events. Both committees were very clear on
what they wanted to achieve. The committees worked with volunteers,
sometimes around the clock, to publicize and organize the
events. Both committees counted on the support they received
from feminist and women's organizations.
The media angle
In Understanding News, John Hartley makes
the point that timing is critical if an issue is to get media
attention. The massacre occurred over Easter weekend. Our
Coalition formed on Monday. In the interim, the media were
busy looking for accredited sources they could interview and
sources who would present another side to the issue. As a
result, when we called the press conference most media organizations
we contacted attended the event.
In organizing both the press conference and the vigil, it
was important for us as members of the Coalition to have the
explicit support of our sister organizations. We wanted to
make it clear that the massacre was not just a South Asian
issue. It was a tragedy that affected everyone, just as violence
against women affects everyone in society. Consequently, representatives
from organizations such as WAVAW, Battered Women's Support
Services (BWSS), the National Action Committee on the Status
of Women (NAC), Vancouver Rape Relief, Vancouver Status of
Women, the Philippine Women's Centre, the IMA and FREDA, spoke
at the press conference and articulated their views.
In addition, we invited representatives from other allied
organizations to attend the conference as a sign of support.
We were gratified to receive an overwhelming response. A number
of different groups, including the BCIFV and the Stepping
Stone Society were represented at the press conference. As
well, we received numerous letters of support from women's
centres and transition houses around the province.
The timing of the conference, the organizing work of the
committees, and the support we received from our community
and allies helped us to achieve our objectives. The press
conference made it to the front page of The Vancouver
Sun. As well, it made the CBC National, CTV, and the
local nightly newscasts. The vigil, however, was not very
well attended. Approximately 400 people showed up at the courtyard
in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Most were members of
the South Asian communities.
What the Coalition asked for
At the press conference, the Coalition requested the following:
- That a full and independent inquiry be ordered by the
Attorney General focusing on the
RCMP's lack of enforcement of the policy concerning violence
in intimate relationships.
- That the inquiry be conducted by an external and independent
agency.
- That there be a meaningful inclusion and participation
of women's groups in reviewing
and amending policies dealing with violence against women
in intimate relationships.
- That the media be cognizant of the reality that violence
is not a culture-bound
phenomenon, but transcends race, class and culture.
- That the Attorney General immediately implement the recommendations
of the Oppal
Commission, particularly with regard to enabling independent
and external monitoring
of all aspects of the criminal justice system as it affects
women who are victims of
violence.
- That the government undertake efforts to increase awareness
and prevention of violence
against women and children.
What we achieved
Through collective action, we were able to put forth our
perspective on the massacre. In terms of concrete outcomes,
we were not able to persuade the Attorney General to call
for an independent inquiry. However, the Attorney General
first ordered an internal investigation into the RCMP's actions.
He then, upon the disclosure of a second violation of policy
- a violation brought forward by Sharon Valisek- ordered a
coroner's inquest.
Based on this response, the Coalition sent out another press
release informing the media that while an inquest was a positive
step in uncovering why the system failed to protect Rajwar
Gakhal, its mandate needed to be broad enough to examine all
aspects of the justice system. As well, the coalition called
for the inclusion of women's groups in the appointments to
the inquest.
By this time, however, the story was stale, at least insofar
as the media were concerned. It was now relegated to the back
pages, overshadowed by other contemporary events, not to mention
the impending provincial election. Consequently, the media
release never made it to newsprint!
What remains to be done
Violence against women and children needs to be a front-page
issue all the time. It is an issue that has life and death
consequences. We cannot afford to treat such violence as an
aberration or simply as the act of a few mad men out there.
This is an endemic problem in Canadian society and it involves
all of us - those who live with it, those who work to end
it, and those who hear about it. The sheer prevalence of violence
against women and children signifies to us just how much violent
behaviour is condoned by society and how little societal systems
will do to protect victims.
Violence is about power. Those without access to power,
privilege and resources are the ones most likely to suffer.
If we are to continue with our vision of creating a non-violent
society, we have to come together and work collectively towards
eliminating all forms of violence. Powerful institutions such
as media, government and corporations can play a critical
role here. They can work with non-profit and community groups
to effect change.
No one person, group or agency can do it alone. We have
to form coalitions and ultimately create a milieu where violence
is simply considered unacceptable. This is what feminism is
about- effecting social change in order to create a society
in which exploitation and domination do not exist.
Yasmin Jiwani
Feminist Research, Education, Development & Action Centre
Simon Fraser University, Harbour Centre
515 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5K3 CANADA
Ph: (604) 291-5197
Fx: (604) 291-5189
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