Multi-city rallies planned for Thursday, June 15 will amplify Rastogi’s call for accountability and justice for all gender-based violence survivors
CHICAGO —(ENEWSPF)—June 15, 2017. On Thursday, June 15, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) will organize rallies in Chicago and New York City in coordination with a locally organized rally in Palo Alto to amplify domestic violence survivor Neha Rastogi’s demand for justice and accountability. The Chicago rally will take place on Thursday, June 15 at 1 p.m. CST at Daley Plaza 50 West Washington Street in Downtown Chicago.
For more than a decade, Rastogi suffered regular violence at the hands of her abusive husband, Abhishek Gattani. In April, the Santa Clara District Attorney’s office offered Gattani a plea agreement that reduces charges against his documented abuse to a “non-violent” crime. Gattani’s sentencing hearing is this Thursday at 1:30pm PST.
“We want to send a strong message that women and all gender-based violence survivors matter and must be heard – not only within the courts, but also within their workplaces, faith institutions and local communities,” said NAPAWF National Field Director Ashley Moy-Wooten. “Neha’s own words stand as a chilling testament to the ways in which gender-based violence survivors are too often treated: ‘Honestly…I stand [here] FOOLED, disgraced and ridiculed…’
Approximately 12-15 people at the rally in Daley Plaza will share testimonies and statements in solidarity with Neha Rastogi, and call on our communities to help to end gender-based violence. Afterwards participants will flyer and speak with pedestrians in Daley Plaza about what they can do to help prevent and end gender-based violence in Chicago. Local Participating Organizations: Apna Ghar, KAN-WIN, AFIRE Chicago, and the South Asian Bar Association.
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The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) is the only multi-issue, progressive, community organizing, and policy advocacy organization for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women and girls in the U.S. NAPAWF’s mission is to build a movement to advance social justice and human rights for AAPI women and girls.
Source: http://napawf.org
