Defend Our Sisters! Drop trumped-up chargesagainst Jacq Ruiz!

The International Women's Alliance denounces the acts of the Marcos Government in the Philippines to issue arrest warrants against Jacq Ruiz, Spokesperson of Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan (KMK), and Jerome Adonis, chairperson of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU). The warrants claim that Ruiz and Adonis violated Article 153 of the Revised Penal Code in connection with this year’s Labor Day protest, but these fabricated charges and warrants only expose the US-Marcos regime’s fear of the militant labor and women’s movement being built in the Philippines.

Amid worsening economic crisis that increases the cost of living while minimum wage has stagnated, the labor movement in the Philippines has demanded an increase to minimum daily wage, the abolition of the value added tax system, and an end to government corruption and misallocation of public funds! Instead of responding to the peoples' demands, the Marcos regime has only increased its crackdowns against protests and demonstrations. Instead of meeting the needs of the people, the Marcos regime sells out the country to the United States and continues to force its people to move overseas. KMK has been on the frontlines organizing working women in call centers, as well as contractualized and informal workers. KMK does not just empower women workers to improve their working conditions - but conducts political education that advances collective power and shows women that through their unity they can change their conditions.

KMK has been on the frontlines organizing working women in call centers, as well as contractualized and informal workers. KMK does not just empower women workers to improve their working conditions - but conducts political education that advances collective power and shows women that through their unity they can change their conditions.

These trumped up charges do not discredit the work of the Labor movement in the Philippines. These attacks against labor leaders will not work to diminish the righteous anger of Filipino workers. These macho-fascist tactics will not extinguish the clamor of the Filipino people for genuine democracy and national sovereignty.

Instead these attacks against Ruiz and Adonis only stoke the flames and propel more people to come together and advance the fight. The International Women's Alliance amplifies the calls of all our members in the Philippines:

No to state repression!

Drop all trumped-up charges against Jacq Ruiz, Jerome Adonis, and all persecuted activists now!⁩