The Women’s Institute for Freedom of the PressWIFP Joins Net Neutrality Efforts
June 11, 2019 marked one year since the FCC’s repeal of all net neutrality protections went into effect. In the year since the repeal, there have been extremely troubling incidents of telecom giants slowing popular services like YouTube and Netflix as well as Skype, and Verizon throttling firefighters’ data in the midst of a massive wildfire.
In April, the House of Representatives passed the Save the Internet Act (HR 1644), which would restore the net neutrality protections repealed by the FCC under Chairman Ajit Pai — protections that are crucial to preventing unjust, unreasonable and discriminatory behavior by internet providers. In 2018, the Senate passed a similar measure, known as a Congressional Review Act resolution, with bipartisan support.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, however, has declared net neutrality “dead on arrival” in the Senate this year, despite the fact 86% of the public—including overwhelming majorities of Republicans, Independents and Democrats—oppose the FCC’s net neutrality repeal.
On the morning of Tuesday, June 11th, public interest advocates from Demand Progress, Free Press, Action, Fight for the Future, Consumer Reports, Public Knowledge, Common Cause, National Hispanic Media Coalition, 18MillionRising.org, PEN America and the Women’s Institute for Freedom of the Press hand delivered 3.5 million pro-net neutrality public comments and petition signatures, generated by dozens of netroots groups, to Senator Mitch McConnell in DC. The delivery included petitions from StopTheFCC.net, SaveTheNetFromTrump.com, BattleForTheNet.com, CREDO Action, Consumer Reports, and Free Press Action, as well as public comments submitted to the FCC going back to the lead up to the 2017 repeal.
On the same day, 26 netroots groups launched an online coalition action, demanding Mitch McConnell allow a vote to restore net neutrality.This effort will drive tens of thousands of online actions and phone calls pressuring senators to cosponsor and demand a vote for the Save the Internet Act in the Senate. Over 100 nonprofit and public interest organizations, including WIFP, also sent a letter on June 11th to Sen. McConnell in support of the Save the Internet Act.
These activities coincided with an all-day livestream on the 11th hosted by web companies, video creators, celebrities, gamers, artists, veterans, business owners and policy experts, to draw attention to the Senate’s inaction on this issue, and to pressure Senate leadership to allow a vote to restore net neutrality. The livestream featured the petition delivery.
Peace Congress: End U.S. Wars at Home and Abroad
WIFP joined the efforts to get the Trump Military Parade cancelled and joined a general assembly of people and groups for peace and justice to determine how to build and strengthen the movement to end the wars at home and abroad. The Peace Congress was held November 10, 2018 in Washington, DC.
Speakers included Angela Bibens of Red Owl Law and Standing Rock, Bernadette Ellorin of BAYAN USA, Cheri Honkala of Poor People’s Economic and Human Rights Campaign, Ajamu Baraka of Black Alliance for Peace, Joe Lombardo of United National Antiwar Coalition, and Netfa Freeman of the Institute for Policy Studies. The Congress was moderated by Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers of Popular Resistance.
Now let’s send a message to the War Machine that we demand peace and a society that doesn’t celebrate violence and militarism.
Global Woman Award Ceremony – Ending Gender Violence & FGM
WIFP’s partner organization, Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation, held the award ceremony on the evening before the 2018 Walk to End FGM. “Celebrating our Collective Efforts to Dispel the Myths and Misconceptions about FGM/C” was held October 26 at the George Washington University in Washington, DC.
Over a half million women and girls in the United States are at risk for or have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). Many myths and misconceptions from key leaders in religion, legal advocacy, education, advocacy, and medicine, and from women who have experienced FGM/C.
Global Woman: “We congratulate the women and men receiving our fifth set of Recognition Awards this evening. Each year, the Nominating Committee of Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation nominates and votes and selects 10 deserving women and men to honor and recognize with the Global Woman Award. We thank these award recipients for the dedicatiion they have rendered to ending the practice of FGM and other injustices on women and girls in the world.
WIFP had a team in the Walk to End FGM and served on the Awards Committee. WIFP’s director, Martha Allen, was among the Award Presenters for this moving evening.
Activist Salon
WIFP’s Activist Salon was held Saturday, June 23, 2018.
It honored the Poor People’s Campaign’s “Global Day of Solidarity and Sending Forth Call to Mass Action. The Salon highlighted the voices of women with New Story Leadership for the Middle East and Global Women’s Peace Foundation, an organization working on eradicating Female Genital Mutilation and supporting women who have experienced FGM. Dr. Elana Anderson spoke on technology and its impact on human capital, empathy and interaction. The short presentations were both informative and to stimulate discussion and networking.
WIFP’s 2018 “Women and Media Award” was presented to Angela Peabody, President and Founder of Global Woman Peace Foundation by WIFP Directors. Award page
Some photos from WIFP’s First Annual Activist Salon. WIFP’s directors Martha Allen and Elana Anderson hosted the event.
Palestinian Voices and the Media
Hazar Badin and Aia Khalaily researched Palestinian media while working in the WIFP office June and July of 2017. They presented their research at our 45th Anniversary event: “Women’s Voices and the Media,” July 13th.
Click here for Palestinian Voices and the Media (pdf)
WIFP 2017 summer team:
