Sustaining activist movements during COVID-19

In this moment of global and domestic crisis, we at Inter Pares are thinking carefully about our own contribution, and our own actions, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As an organization rooted in feminism, we are looking at this situation from a feminist and social justice lens. We see the pandemic exposing and exacerbating inequities, vulnerabilities and greed; we also see a groundswell of compassion, kindness, and solidarity around the world. The stark reality that our individual well-being is predicated on the well-being of everyone else on this planet has been laid bare. The global has never before been more local; the personal never more political.

Inter Pares has always supported feminist and social justice activism over the long term. We understand that these struggles will transcend any one moment of crisis or victory. The quest for social justice extended beyond the fall of the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines, the faltering path to democracy in Burma, the fall of the dictatorship in Sudan, and the signing of peace agreements in Colombia, as it will beyond this pandemic. Inter Pares works with activists and movements around the world who take this long view – while still focusing on and responding to the moment we are in.

Our programmatic work during this pandemic will continue to both focus on the moment, but also on the long-term. We will:

1. Bear witness. Inter Pares’ close relationships with domestic and international counterparts give us a window into understanding domestic and international political, social and economic dynamics in a variety of contexts. Ultimately, we will seek to amplify the voices and experiences of our counterparts as they respond and react to the pandemic in their own contexts.
    
2. Act in solidarity. Inter Pares will continue to support our counterparts and local movements, financially and politically. In some cases, this may entail resourcing local, context-specific and direct pandemic-related action.
    
3. Advocate. Inter Pares is determined to support feminist and social justice policy responses to the pandemic, as well as to the myriad inequalities that persist in the world, now and in the long-term.

As the winds of misogyny, xenophobia, oppression and economic injustice blow across the globe even in this COVID-19 moment, Inter Pares will support and sustain movements of resistance. This approach takes patience and persistence, and a deeply held belief in the power of solidarity. It also takes the strength of our collaborators and donors, who stand with us. All of this is incredibly powerful, and ultimately hopeful.

Though the present moment is incredibly jarring, we look to the words of activist Arundhati Roy, “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. . . on a quiet day, if I listen very carefully, I can hear her breathing.”

We wish you and yours love, health and safety.

Inter Pares