RiseUp 4 the Revolution
– Against Colonialism, F ascism, Patriarchy and Femicides, Ecological Destruction,
and all forms of oppression around the World –
19 th July – the 8 th anniversary of the Rojava revolution; the Nicaraguan and Spanish revolution
The 19 th July is an important day for the whole world; not only historically, but also in our present day
and time; important for everyone fighting against fascism and building up the world we want to live in!
On the 19 th July, 8 years ago, the biggest revolution of the 21 st century started in Kobanê, Rojava, in an
unstoppable advance against the fascism of our time. The Rojava revolution is a beacon of hope for
other parts of Syria, the wider Middle East, and indeed the whole world. The essential element of these
revolutions is the liberation of women. Rojava is a women’s revolution. It is the example of how a
radically-democratic, social-ecologial, women liberated society and reality looks based on the ideas of
democratic confederalism, proposed by Abdullah Öcalan. Here in Rojava/North-East Syria, a reality is
lived where women, the youth, ethnic and religious minorities decide in autonomous confederal
structures of how to live, coming together and succeeding – together with the global resistance
movement – against the forces that have oppressed us for decades.
History has proven to us that if we stand up and fight together, see connections, learn from one another,
and make the revolutions of the past and present our own, we will succeed!
Therefore, let us also celebrate on this day, the victory against fascism in Nicaragua in 1979. After a
long and hard struggle, the fascist, military dictatorship of the Somoza family was smashed, and the
way to socialist politics was opened, especially with great improvements on educational and
agricultural topics. The revolution in Nicaragua as well as the Rojava revolution follow the heritage of
internationalism, and the common fight against fascism by being also influenced ideologically and
practically by other revolutions in the past and present.
We will also never forget and are following into the footsteps of the working class uprisal on 19 th July
1936 against the attempt of the fascist coup d’état of the nationalist movement in the Spanish state.
With weapons in the hands of the people, the working class defeated fascism in the main cities,
declaring the social revolution in Catalunya and Aragon. The heroic resistance, and the common
internationalist struggle in the form of 50 thousands volunteers in the International Brigades is an
example for our struggle today.Today, hundreds of volunteers from all around the world are joining the
revolutionary struggle in Rojava/North-East Syria, coming to learn and participate in the women’s revolution,
which takes gender liberation as its base for building up a world without fascism anymore and anywhere;
understanding that the development of patriarchy throughout history shapes our oppressive system of
today. Together with the global resistance movement, we are in a common struggle against fascism,
following the examples of the Internationalist Brigades, the struggle against colonialism and
imperialism in Algeria, Cuba, Nicaragua, Vietnam, and the innumerable uprisings against capitalist
modernity, and hence imperialism all over the world. Without overcoming patriarchal mentality, we
will not be able to overcome capitalism, colonialism and fascism.
Democratic Modernity versus Capitalist modernity in our times
There are two basic systems of conflict with one another today; the system of capitalist modernity,
supporting the rise of fascism; and the system of democratic modernity with all freedom-loving anti-
capitalist, anti-imperialist, anti-patriarchal, internationalist forces of the world! Today, capitalist
modernity and the fascism in the Middle East is materialised in the form of DAESH and the fascist
Turkish state, with all their global supporters, especially US-imperialism and the wider international
coalition with NATO. But the forces of democratic modernity, in the vanguard of the youth, women,
oppressed and ethnic minorities as well as the labouring people, are not accepting the attempts of
genocide and occupation, and are continuing to fight for and to build up the alternative we want to live
in!
Especially, in times, when attempts are made to increase the occupation in the whole of Kurdistan with
recent military operations and daily bombings, aiming at destroying the greatest revolution of the 21 st
century;
in times, when colonialism, and fascism are on the rise, and express themselves clearly as an integral
part of all nation-states around the world, using also Covid-19 as an excuse for authoritarian measures;
in times, when racist police violence, racist attacks, and xenophobia are increasing all around the
world, as we are witnessing with the racist killing of George Floyd in the US, with the racist attacks in
Hanau in Germany, and with the global situation of refugees at borders and in camps;
in times, when femicides are state practice as the recent bombings in Kobanê by the fascist Turkish
state show, killing women activists, working on women’s self-organisation and liberation, and when
everyday the patriarchal mentality is killing women and non-binary people around the world;
in times, when the ecological destruction of our planet has taken on a tremendous form, and the profit
of capitalists is put over the social needs of peoples and future generations;
in these times, we, as the global resistance movement, are already RISING UP 4 THE REVOLUTION!
We are the forces, loving freedom and humanity, and we are not only resisting these attacks but are also
building the alternative we envision. We are following all those who fell in the struggle for humanity,
dignity and freedom; who gave their lives for a better world, and whose memory we are keeping alive
by making the struggle our own, and continuing on their path.We, as Women Defend Rojava, the
Internationalist Commune, and RiseUp4Rojava, are, therefore, calling for global action days on the
18 th and 19 th July against colonialism, fascism, patriarchy and femicides, ecological destruction,
and all forms of oppression. We will demonstrate, occupy, blockade, protest in creative forms all around
the world, and show our common antifascist struggle in one front, letting the ones who prevent us from
living in dignity and freedom know what we think of them.
Therefore, we are calling upon everyone to join these actions days and to share them with us!
We RISE UP 4 THE REVOLUTION!
The revolution in the Middle East, and all around the world will win – fascism will be crushed.
Long live international solidarity!