Last week, we covered some of the ways in which the Feminist Coalition has supported the EndSARS protests in Nigeria. In the light of recent events, like the arrests of the peaceful EndSARS protesters, we asked the Feminist Coalition a few questions on what their purpose is and what struggles they’ve come across in supporting the movement to end SARS brutality in Nigeria.
Feminist Coalition provides aid for protesters.
We are scared young Nigerian women who are not a threat. We wanted to contribute towards Nigerians exercising their constitutional rights to protest by providing food, water, masks (for COVID 19), paying medical bills and supporting legal aid for arrested protesters.
We do not plan protests; we simply donate to the needs of peaceful protest organisers so that they are safe. We have made it clear in our statements via our website and our social:
Unfortunately, their goodwill hasn’t been very well received.
In the past week, we’ve had restrictions placed on our bank accounts, and many people who have donated to us or received donations from us have also complained of restrictions placed on their accounts by certain banks. This is what forced us to move to decentralised payment platforms and only accept donations in bitcoin using BTC Pay.
There have been threats to the safety of coalition members, FK Abudu, other Nigerian civilians as well as general concerns for the safety of peaceful protesters.
These threats have been due to misinformation and defamation of who we are and what we stand for by bad actors.
We received donations towards the #EndSARS movement from unknown but well-meaning Nigerians and supporters of the movements both here and internationally. People have donated because they are all passionate about building a better Nigeria. What we asked for was an end to the killing of Nigerians at the hands of the police and that the government take real action and hear our cry as people of Nigeria.
Here is our statement on the killing of peaceful protesters in Lagos Nigeria on 20 October 2020.
For more information on the Feminist Coalition, you can check out their website.
