PROTEST SPEECH
New York Public Library, August 28, 2021
My name is Yeldā Ali and I am so proud to represent Afghanistan and her diaspora today. I'm going to speak loud because as we know, women have to speak louder to be heard.
For all sisters here today, I want you to raise your hand if you have a k-12 education. If you came here today without a male chaperone. If you go grocery shopping alone. [Pause.] Under the Taliban regime, we would all be raped, forced into marriage or murdered for these freedoms.
I was meant to speak on women's safety today. As we rapidly regress in Afghanistan due to the Taliban's invasion, we are here again negotiating basic human rights. We aren't here today protesting for scholarships or better schools. We are here today because the Taliban don't believe that women deserve to be educated. We aren't here today protesting equal pay or reproductive rights. We are here today because women in Afghanistan are not allowed to walk outside alone. These are all moral crimes, in the eyes of these fundamentalists.
Well, let me tell you what's fundamental. Rights to freedom are fundamental. Freedom from torture is fundamental. Freedom of opinion and expression is fundamental. The right to work and education is fundamental. These aren't my opinions, these are established as Fundamental Human Rights by the United Nations. And there are more, but we're still fighting for these ones so I'll stay focused.
Women in Afghanistan are being turned down from their offices by the Taliban, universities have been asked to discuss gender segregation possibilities, women are required to be accompanied by male members of their family in public, journalists and activists are in hiding or in flee, and the media are not broadcasting music.
Abusers always say "I will change", we know this right? I've heard the Taliban have gotten smarter but somehow they haven't thought of a better tagline. "Things have changed" is their current propaganda. Things have never been worse. Under the Taliban regime, being a girl in Afghanistan puts you in a category of "high risk". Being a woman in Afghanistan puts you in a category of "high risk". Being stuck in Afghanistan after supporting the US mission puts you in "high risk". And America knows all of this. They know because they've lived in Afghanistan for forty years.
Have you ever had someone break their promise to you? It hurts so bad right? America, you broke promises! There are Afghan women right now committing suicide because they supported your mission, they believed you when you said you'd protect them and now you have put their names on death lists.
We have three days. I have call-to-actions for you.
1. Individuals & Communities: Volunteer. Spread awareness. Donate to aid agencies and relief funds. Listen to Afghan voices. Denounce the Taliban and their rhetoric. Sponsor a refugee in your community.
2. Institutions & Brands: Donate and implement employee match programs. Spread awareness on your platform.
3. Biden administration: you can commit to welcoming 200K refugees, get them the help they need, and expedite a lot of the resettlement process. You can create special humanitarian categories for Afghan Women at high-risk. And we can call on them to do so.
Today, we have QR codes with links to many great organizations and resources. I want to personally elevate Women for Afghan Women and Panah Charity founded by Rukhshana Benish--who have been doing incredible work for Afghan women for many. Please support them in their efforts to do what this government is choosing not to. Whether you are an Afghan woman or not, you have a duty and responsibility to elevate this crisis.
And to my beloved Afghan women, your voices have not been heard. Your voice has not been heard. When I say AFGHAN WOMAN, I want to hear you roar. Sher wari.