26 years from Pride Revolution 1994: Police arrests Queer Filipino Protesters
While not as wildly known as Stonewall, Pride Revolution 1994 or Stonewall Manila is the first ever Pride March in Asia and the Philippines. It happened in June 26, 1994, exactly 26 years from now.
On this historic date, Queer Filipinos decided it was high time to protest against the many injustices against the Filipinos. While of course, the forefront advocacies of the Filipinos are present like Marriage and Gender Equality. More timely issues are also included in the protest of these queer Filipinos are #FreeMassTesting, #JunkTerrorBill, and #NoToJeepneyPhaseOut. It had been a peaceful protests, with social distancing practices… Until the police arrived, that is.
On this same day when Queer Filipinos recall an important step taken by those who fought for equality before us, the police captured over 20 Filipinos in the Pride Protest saying that they have allegedly violated quarantine protocols but when asked to state which violations, the police could not answer. They also took their car keys and hijacked the protesters’ vehicles. They are saying a protester attacked the police by spraying something on one of their faces but the video footage of the whole event shows otherwise. (Links provided in reblog as tumblr messes up post visibility when they include links)
This has been a stark contrast to high-profile individuals who are on the same side as the current administration who violated quarantine protocols. The police did not come knocking on their doorsteps and were even provided leeway by the administration, calling their actions “A honest mistake”, “not a party but a mañanita” and “tempering the rigor of the law with compassion”. (These include a covid-positve senator who went strolling in a hospital, not because he was sick, but because he insisted on being there for his pregnant wife; the deputy OOWA Administrator who stole pictures of private companies providing PPEs and said it was from the Philippine Government and also gathered over 300 Filipinos for an event and the chief of police who had a birthday party amidst the quarantine.)
The Philippine Executive Branch keep amassing debt that has now 8.6 Trillion Pesos (172B USD) but continue to say we lack the funds to perform mass testing. Instead of aiding the medical sector, the executive branch opted for a militaristic approach that has not only harmed but also took the lives of Filipinos. The lack of competence of the executive has led to the rise of dissenters. Instead of heading the calls of the Filipinos to focus and help the medical sector (in its iconic #SolusyongMedikalHindiAksyongMilitar which translates to Medical Solutions Not Militant Actions) red-tagging of dissenters as “terrorist” had become the norm.
To further grasp the control of the Filipinos, the Terror Bill was concocted by the Philippine Legislative, a bill that allowed the Police and the Executive branch to arrest people “under suspicion of being a terrorist” which frankly, allows the police more power with red-tagging peaceful dissenters as dangerous terrorists.
To make matters worse, they have started the Jeepney Phaseout amidst the pandemic and the rampant laying off of workers. Now, Filipino Jeepney drivers are forced out of work amidst the pandemic. In relation, the Filipinos who favored Jeepneys, as they are a cheaper alternative to other public transports, are now forced to walk home instead because of the current public transport system cannot support the number of Filipino workers.
(Photo courtesy of Rappler)
They are not letting us speak. No where in the quarantine law (Bayanihan to Heal as One) does it state that protests are banned.
Save the voices of the Filipinos. Do not let them change the narrative. Hold the government accountable for their lapses. Dissent is not terrorism. Dissent is duty. And Pride is a Protests. #FreePride20
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