Melbourne 2016 Activities Archive
Sunday, November 20, 1pm
Mobilise against Neo-Nazi Trump rally in Melbourne
Neo-Nazi groups, True Blue Crew and United Patriots Front, are planning a rally to celebrate Trump's election. Emboldened by One Nation's recent electoral success, and now Trump's, the far right and fascists are coming out of the shadows, and they're organising.
Campaign Against Racism and Fascism, a united front that Radical Women is a part of, and No Room for Racism are mobilising to stop them on Sunday. The fascists cannot be allowed a platform from which they can recruit and ultimately build a violent movement.
Across the U.S., women, young people, LGBTIQ+ folks, immigrants, people of colour, First Nations, unionists and radicals have taken to the streets in their millions to protest Trump's election. Because we're also in the far right's firing line, we need to turn out in our huge numbers on Sunday. Our sisters and brothers in the U.S. are showing what we can do.
Come out on Sunday, spread the word, and share the counter-rally event
If you want to go as part of Radical Women's and Freedom Socialist Party's joint contingent, contact RW: Radical Women.
Sunday, 11 December, 1.00 - 5.00 pm
Radical Women Open House
Radical Women is a socialist feminist grassroots activist organisation that provides a radical voice within the feminist movement, a feminist voice within the Left, and trains women to be leaders in the movements for social and economic justice.
But what does it mean to be a Radical Woman? Well, come to Solidarity Salon for our Open House, where you can ask us about our values, goals and activism in the struggles of anti-fascism, First Nations people, LGBTIQ+, unions, the women's movement and more. All genders are welcome!
Enjoy delicious vegetarian and vegan treats as well as drinks at Solidarity prices. You'll also be able to take home and share beautiful home-baked goods, which will feature in our upcoming 2017 Bake Sale.
In the words of Clara Fraser, RW's founder: "To me there can be no liberation without socialism. And conversely, there can be no socialism without liberation for everybody."
You can also pop in to check out our literature and bookshop! We highly recommend picking up our Radical Women Manifesto.
Solidarity Salon, 580 Sydney Road, Brunswick
For more info, email Radical Women. Join the event on Facebook.
Alternate Wednesdays, October 5 - December 7, 6:30pm
Radical Women study circle
The root of women's oppression and how to end it!
For 99% of women, sexism's cruelty is intense. The heaviest blows of budget cuts, low pay, job losses, poverty and war fall on us. We're fighting for control over our bodies and the independence to lead our own lives. Why does sexism still thrive in this day and age? Have men, the Church and the State always dominated society? How will the exploitation and oppression of women finally come to an end?
Be part of reading and discussing Frederick Engels' classic, The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State. Over six sessions, we will analyse the root of women's oppression, the causes of gender inequality and how to end it. All genders are welcome!
Pick up the book for $16 and a study pack for $5 containing all additional materials. This will mean you're set to participate in the first session. No requirement to commit to all sessions!
Available at each session will be a homemade dinner for an $8.50 donation served at 6:30pm. The discussion group starts 7.00 pm.
Solidarity Salon, 580 Sydney Road, Brunswick
For more info, email radicalwomen@optusnet.com.au. Join the event on Facebook.
Wednesday, 26 October, 6.30 pm
Need to put ideas into action?
Come to a revolutionary feminist organising meeting!
With Pauline Hanson back in Parliament, her far-right misogynist, racist, anti-LGBTIQ, anti-union agenda has a powerful national platform. It's time to organise! Help Radical Women with your ideas, talents and energy in preparing for much-needed action. All genders are welcome!
Dinner, catering for vegans and vegetarians, will be served at 6.30 pm for an $8.50 donation. The meeting starts at 7.00 pm.
Solidarity Salon, 580 Sydney Road, Brunswick
For more info, email radicalwomen@optusnet.com.au. Join the event on Facebook.
Sunday, 14 August, 2.00 pm
Looking for action? Find it at a revolutionary feminist organising meeting!
With violent attacks on people of colour, LGBTIQA, Muslims, women and children around the world, now is the time to get organized!
Join in discussion of The unacknowledged roots of the Orlando shootings, a statement of Radical Women and Freedom Socialist Party highlighting the danger of labeling such attacks as "acts of terrorism" or "hate crimes" to hide the real problem of systemic violence.
This meeting will plan the direction of Radical Women for the second half of this year, and we need your input! Come join us in putting our hearts and minds to the task of creating a better, socialist feminist future.
Snacks, including vegan and vegetarian, will be available for a $5.00 donation. All genders are welcome. See you there!
Solidarity Salon, 580 Sydney Road, Brunswick
For more information contact: radicalwomen@optusnet.com.au
or call 9388-0062. Join the Facebook event.
Sunday, 26 June, 6.00 pm
Stonewall celebration and movie screening
Two Spirits - One Fight!
Celebrate the anniversary of the launching the LGBTIQ movement by attending a screening of Two Spirits: Gender, Sexuality and the Murder of Fred Martinez. This moving documentary interweaves the tragic story of a mother's loss of her son with a revealing look at the largely unknown history of a time when the world wasn't simply divided into male and female; a time when many Native American cultures held people of integrated genders in places of honour. The film tackles both modern and historical LGBTIQ community issues. It highlights how traditional Navajo culture views those who resist the gender binary. Fred's murder at age 16 is just one example of why the fight must be waged for a world where everyone is free to be themselves, free from oppression. Open discussion follows the film.
Doors open 6 pm, program starts at 6:30 pm sharp.
Midwinter Feast follows the movie, catering for both vegetarians and vegans.
Solidarity Salon, 580 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Movie and dinner donation: $25 solidarity, $15 waged and $10 unwaged.
Drinks available at radical activist prices.
Hosted by Radical Women to benefit seditious feminist organizing!
For more information contact: radicalwomen@optusnet.com.au
or call 9388-0062. Join the Facebook event.
Saturday, 7 May, 2.00 pm
Revolutionary Feminist Organising Meeting
All are welcome to this open Radical Women meeting. Get the latest updates on anti-fascist organising and the fights for reproductive justice and workers' rights. Bring your ideas and get involved by helping to plan for these volatile times.
Solidarity Salon, 580 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Between Blyth & Stewart Streets. Take Tram #19 or the Upfield train to Anstey Station. Plenty of parking.
Light snacks available for a $5.00 donation.
For more info, contact Radical Women: radicalwomen@optusnet.com.au
03-9388-0062. Or join the facebook event.
Saturday, 23 April, 9.30 am
Defend the Fertility Control Clinic!
The Fertility Control Clinic needs to be defended from the Helpers of God's Precious Infants' April "rosary parade" - their final one before Victoria's exclusion zone becomes enforceable in early May.
For nearly 11 years, grassroots activists have defended the Fertility Control Clinic from incessant anti-abortion harassment. This has been the only protection the clinic, women using it and the neighbourhood have ever had. It remains to be seen if Victoria Police and local council, who have shown no interest in stopping the violence for the past 40+ years, will stop it now.
The anti-abortion movement in the U.S. has used various tactics to circumvent exclusion zones and gut the 1972 Supreme Court ruling that legalised abortion nationally. The anti-abortion movement in Australia is, too. Last October, Democratic Labour Party MP Rachel Carling-Jenkins introduced the "Infant Viability" Bill in the Victorian Parliament. It will be debated in May. This bill sets out to overturn the state's 2008 law reform, which decriminalised abortion.
See you at the clinic defence! Get ready for the next abortion rights battle!
Fertility Control Clinic, 118 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne
You can join the event here.
For more info, email radicalwomen@optusnet.com.au
Sunday, 3 April 2.00 pm
Join Radical Women's Contingent
Make Melbourne a Racist & Fascist Free Zone
One year ago, the far-right Reclaim Australia and fascist United Patriots Front burst onto the scene, holding a rally against Muslims at Federation Square in Melbourne. Melburnians came out in force to oppose them. Campaign Against Racism and Fascism (CARF) began from this counter-organising. Radical Women and our sister organisation, Freedom Socialist Party, helped form this united front of unionists, feminists, socialists, anarchists, Aboriginal and social justice activists.
Throughout the year, CARF has mobilised resistance to the UPF and Reclaim Australia, preventing them from getting a foothold in our communities. Reclaim Australia has dwindled, and the UPF has been exposed as neo-Nazis intent on building a violent movement based on the demonising of Muslims, refugees women, LGBTIQ and Indigenous peoples.
This year, the UPF announced an anniversary rally at Federation Square. When CARF started counter-mobilising, UPF dropped its plan. April 3 will be an anniversary of anti-fascist, anti-racist organising, and we will celebrate this victory.
- Yes to Refugees
- No to Islamophobia
- No to Fascism
- Fascists will always lose in Melbourne!
Join the joint contingent of Radical Women and Freedom Socialist Party. Contact RW: radicalwomen@optusnet.com.au. Or join on RW's facebook.
16 March - 25 May, Alternate Wednesdays 7.00 pm
Radical Women & Freedom Socialist Party discussion circle:
No Local: Why small-scale alternatives won't change the world
2015 was the hottest year on record. The earth is becoming hotter than Gollum's ring finger in the fires of Mordor. Parts of Australia look like a desert planet in Star Wars. Capitalism has bred monstrous agribusiness monopolies that rip the goodness out of the soil and then pummel it with fertiliser and pesticide.
Localism is based on the idea that producing big brings ecological catastrophe and inequality. Advocates say that by changing to small, localised production, we would free our communities, and ultimately the world, from the stranglehold of corporate capitalism.
Join in discussion of Greg Sharzer's No Local, which debunks this notion. Sharzer, a trade union, anti-poverty and immigrant rights activist, accessibly applies Marxist economic theory to show why localism in no way challenges capitalism. He points to the kind of organising that can. We'll also explore what's ultimately needed to change the world.
Dinner served at 6.30 pm for an $8.50 donation.
Solidarity Salon, 580 Sydney Road, Brunswick Take Tram #19 to Blyth St or the Upfield train to Anstey Station. Plenty of parking.
No Local is available for $25 at Solidarity Salon. You can buy the book before 16 March or at the first session. For the Study Guide or more information, contact radicalwomen@optusnet.com.au or freedom.socialist.party@ozemail.com.au. Click here to join the discussion circle event on facebook.
Tuesday, 8 March, 5.30 pm
International Women's Day:
March with Radical Women!
"Women of the World Unite for Women's Liberation, Decolonisation, and Economic Justice!" is the theme of Melbourne's IWD. In this spirit of multi-issue internationalism, Radical Women will march with placards calling for reproductive justice for all women, guaranteed housing, free education, healthcare and transport for everyone, jobs for all and equal pay, the end to discrimination against LGBTIQA people, recognition of First Nations sovereignty and treaty now, open borders and full citizenship rights for refugees, and much more.
Join RW's contingent, and ramp up the volume of our multi-generational, multi-racial, multi-sexuality, multi-gendered voices. There will be plenty of placards, or bring your own!
State Library, Swanston Street, Melbourne
(opposite Melbourne Central Station)
Gather at 5.20 pm at corner of Lt Lonsdale & Swanston. See you there!
For more info about Melbourne's IWD or to join RW's contingent, click here.
Saturday, 23 January, 9.30 am
Fertility Control Clinic still needs grassroots defence!
The exclusion zone legislation passed in November isn't yet in force, and anti-abortion harassment is as aggressive as ever. Join the clinic defence, and keep the harassers well away - as we've done for more than a decade!
Fertility Control Clinic, 118 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne
Take Tram #48 or #75 to Powlett or Simpson Streets
For more information, contact Radical Women or join the Facebook event.
Wednesday, 27 January, 7.00 pm
Getting down to radical business!
Want to see how socialist feminists put ideas to work in these fast-moving and unpredictable times? Everyone is welcome to this open meeting. Participate in analysing current events and setting Radical Women's priorities for the new year. From preparing a rowdy radical contingent for Pride to fighting off the neo-Nazi menace, this is a chance to get involved!
Dinner is served at 6.30 pm for an $8.50 donation.
Solidarity Salon, 580 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Between Blyth & Stewart Streets
Tram #19 or Upfield train to Anstey station. Plenty of parking.
For more information, contact Radical Women or join the Facebook event.
Sunday, 31 January, 1.30 pm
Pride 2016: Fight the fascists, bury the bigots and halt the homophobes!
The theme of the 2016 Melbourne Pride is "Marriage Equality." This demand, along with same-sex adoption rights, sends the right wing into a frenzy of homophobic fear-mongering.
Far right forces have a long list of those they hate. As well as fuelling homophobia and transphobia, they use sexism, racism, Islamophobia and reactionary nationalism, and they hate leftists and trade unionists. Their goal is to cohere a far-right movement, which will threaten the working class in its rainbow diversity.
You are invited to march in a united front contingent initiated by Radical Women. We will highlight the continued struggle for LGBTIQA rights against the fascists, bigots, homophobes, and all the collective dross of the far right.
From the United Patriots Front and Reclaim Australia's promotion of "the Aussie way of life" (whatever that is!), to the far right's ongoing attempts to control all women's bodies, our goal is to broaden the movement and prevent these types from organising and implementing their sinister program.
All organisations and individuals concerned about the growth of far-right forces in Australia - including Reclaim Australia, the United Patriots Front, Helpers of Gods Precious Infants, Salt Shakers, Rise Up Australia, Australia First Party, Endeavour Forum, Australian Family Association, Right to Life Australia, Australian Christian Lobby, Party For Freedom and others of this ilk - are invited to join this united front contingent. Radical Women will have placards and banners or bring your own.
Come join us to build the movement to "Fight the Fascists, Bury the Bigots, and Halt the Homophobes." This Radical Women-initiated contingent is endorsed by Campaign Against Racism and Fascism, Freedom Socialist Party and Indigenous Social Justice Association - Melbourne.
Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Pride will publish the order of contingents, so look for Radical Women's number.
For more information, or to add your endorsement, contact Radical Women at radicalwomen@optusnet.com.au. Join the Facebook event here.
2015 Activities
2014 Activities
2013 Activities
2012 Activities