Rape

I am a woman. I stand in this life with this body female, and have traversed life on a woman’s path, often not of my choosing. I may have rejected patriarchy long ago, but it has never rejected me. It is always waiting, and hangs close by, like a long shadow, following so many days and skies of life. This is why my first, most basic solidarity that I feel with my whole heart and soul, is with the women of the world.

Many punks know by now that three women were raped in Philly during the Pointless Fest. Many punks also know that a group of women came together immediately afterwards, and confronted the rapist bastard on the street with the strength of the truth, their rage, and their fists. The statement of the PhillyPissed group strikes at my core, and I support them with every word. And it is not only the women of Philadelphia who have come together. Minneapolis women also quickly formed a group committed to following up with the rapist involved who lives in their town.

This is a message that you cannot ignore. Women in the punk scene will not allow our sisters to be raped, attacked, and assaulted without consequences. We will defend ourselves and our sisters.

You, rapist, punk, women-abuser, have been warned.

When I found out that a woman was raped during the show my band played at the Pointless Fest, I felt sick and shaken to my very core. I am a woman, and I have been raped. I thought of the survivor, who now has to live with this attack for the rest of her life. I’d rather never play a show again, would rather smash my guitar to pieces, would rather never sing again, than to be a part of a punk scene where women are regarded as nothing more than prey.

Thank you to the women in Philadelphia, to the women in Minneapolis, to the women everywhere who are breaking through the silence of rape, and are hanging it out to dry. It gives me hope and strength! Rape is a part of the violence of this capitalist world, a sick culture built on exploitation, patriarchy and disregard. It will take all of us to clear this shroud and build a better world.

(Remember, rapist, you have been warned.)

In Sisterhood and Solidarity, Erika