Women’s Rights Without Frontiers applauds Cori Schumacher, the reigning Women’s World Longboard Surfing Champion. Schumacher is boycotting the 2011 World Tour on moral grounds, because one of the events will be held in China. Citing a hearing before the United States Congress Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Schumacher wrote the following to the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP):
“I have deep political and personal reservations with being a part of any sort of benefit to a country that actively engages in human rights violations, specifically those in violation of women. The ASP’s reconnaissance of possible sites in China for events last year and its first ASP event in China followed an important US congressional hearing on China’s “One Child Policy,” a policy sanctioned by the Chinese government that is implicated in gendercide, sexual slavery, forced sterilization and forced abortions. (http://www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org/index.php?nav=congressional)”
Women’s Rights Without Frontiers issues the following statement:
“To Ms. Schumacher: You are a woman of tremendous courage, conviction and backbone — a shining light not only to female athletes, but to all women who are struggling for basic human dignity, all over the world. Your decision to boycott the ASP 2011 World Tour comes at a price. Your sacrifice is a great inspiration to the women of China and has been publicized there widely. You embody the highest ideals of athleticism – not only outstanding achievement in your sport, but also a consummate moral vision that finds expression in courageous and self-sacrificing action. We salute you.
“To the ASP: China’s One Child Policy is enforced through forced abortion, forced sterilization and infanticide. It is also a driving force behind gendercide, sexual slavery, and female suicide. It causes more violence towards women and girls than any other official policy on earth and any other official policy in the history of the world. Why are you dignifying this brutality by holding your tournament in China? Read the Congressional Testimony of forced abortion victim Wujian and watch the four minute video, “Stop Forced Abortion in China!” Then do the right thing: move your tournament to the shores of a land whose waves are not awash in the blood of women.”
Relevant Links:
Congressional Testimony of Forced Abortion Victim Wujian:
http://www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org/index.php?nav=wujian
Stop Forced Abortion in China! (four minute video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjtuBcJUsjY
Petition against forced abortion in China:
http://www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org/index.php?nav=sign_our_petition
Article Announcing Schumacher’s boycott:
http://blog.surf-station.com/2011/03/world-champion-boycotts-2011-asp-tour/
Report of Schumacher’s Boycott in Mandarin on Voice of America:
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20110416-women-world-champion-119972704.html