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UID:Indybay-18333169
SEQUENCE:18341023
CREATED:20061125T230900Z
DESCRIPTION:Over a year ago, a 22-year-old Filipina, “Nicole”, was gang raped and 
 tossed aside by six U.S. Servicemen outside of a club in Subic Bay, 
 Olongapo City (a former U.S. naval base site). Due to the Visiting Forces 
 Agreement, the trial must end.\n \nOn November 26, 2006, GABRIELA Network 
 will hold a vigil for “Nicole”, whose perpetrators, six U.S. 
 Servicemen, await their verdict in the upcoming week. At the same time, 
 GABRIELA Network commemorates the International Day to Stop Violence 
 Against Women as well as gathering women from all over the Bay Area to Take 
 Back the Night. \n\nGABRIELA Network not only supports “Nicole” during 
 this vigil, but recognizes women who have been sexually, physically, 
 psychologically, financially, and emotionally abused.\n\nThe United 
 States’ treatment of the Philippines like a prostitute is nothing new. 
 For over a century since the Philippines was a colony of the United States 
 in 1898, U.S. troops have continually come into the Philippines, at one 
 point historically making Olongapo and Angeles cities the biggest hubs for 
 prostitution in Asia. In the Philippines where the number of prostituted 
 persons is about the size of the country’s manufacturing workforce, women 
 and girls have and continue to be victims of trafficking where they have 
 been forced to provide sexual services. These women and girls are not 
 prostitutes by choice but have become modern-day slaves. \n \nWhile the 
 rape case of “Nicole” has gained international media attention, rape is 
 still one of the most underreported crimes anywhere in the world. In 
 America alone, an estimated every two and a half minutes, an individual is 
 sexually assaulted. Many victims do not seek legal recourse fearing that 
 they themselves will be put on trial, publicly humiliated, and further 
 punished for reporting their rape to authorities, while the perpetrators’ 
 actions are oftentimes overlooked by the judicial system.  So is the case 
 with “Nicole”, in which vital evidence has been destroyed and stories 
 have been corroborated against her.  \n \nThis vigil is hosted by GABRIELA 
 Network who demands justice and accountability for the rape of “Nicole” 
 as well as all attacks on women.  The perpetrators must be brought to 
 justice now. As the oldest and only national women’s organization in 
 solidarity with the Philippines, GABRIELA Network stands with “Nicole” 
 and all women who continue to bravely overcome their perpetrators while 
 still facing stigma and humiliation in a system that would rather see 
 victims on trial rather than their perpetrators.\n\nPLEASE STAND IN VIGIL 
 WITH US AND LIGHT A CANDLE FOR "NICOLE" AND OTHERS BRUTALIZED BY RAPE AND 
 OTHER FORMS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN!\n\nFor more information, please 
 contact: sfbayarea@gabnet.org\n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/11/25/18333169.php
SUMMARY:VIGIL
LOCATION:Dewey Memorial, Union Square, San Francisco, CA
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/11/25/18333169.php
DTSTART:20061127T000000Z
DTEND:20061127T020000Z
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