Who‘s coming to FiLIA?

@ZobiLaMouchesorry I can’t seem to pm you on the MN app and I’m not going to give you where I am given all TRA activity today. But when we’re back in I’ll look out for pink leopards!

This.

As I suggested earlier, if we look at both the history and the nature of the women’s movement, it’s obvious that we won’t all agree with each other.

The women’s movement comes from the grass roots, with a multiplicity of voices, issues, and arguments from 51% of the population. We need to learn to disagree and be disagreed with, without taking it personally or making silly personal comments.

But also, FILIA isn’t the only feminist organisation around. There are other groups.

Personally, I think it’s really disappointing that instead of celebrating FILIA’s success in bringing over 2000 women together, in all their diversity, and in the face of violent hostility from men, and the local MP, Sian Berry (who should hang her head in shame), some people are focusing on personal slights.

I couldn’t make the opening session (work gets in the way sometimes!) but I would have been uncomfortable with chants about Palestine. I’m an unfashionable Zionist, and I think Hamas are murderous butchers, and terrorist scum. But I also understand aspects of the Palestine cause. I think I may have left the auditorium, but I might also have stayed to listen, and accept that we are lucky to have freedom of thought and speech - unlike Afghani women, or those disagreeing with governments in Iraq or Iran.

but a couple of years ago in Cardiff I was at the opening session and joined in with the chant of “Women, freedom, life” led by a different speaker.

I am here today, my phone is too old for the app please could someone message me about the Mumsnetters meet up?
Or say hello if you see me - am wearing a t shirt with 2 pink leopards on it.

She’s probably queuing up inside to buy merch saying difficult women make history and such like.

In what way am I a trouble maker @Dopeydoraz?

FiLiA have been asked to provide a statement in response to these questions, but have not yet replied.

Who makes decisions about programming, speakers, and panels?

Does the organisation have a written policy prohibiting antisemitism?

How many Jewish identifying people are on the FiLiA ban list?

On what grounds were they added?

Is there an independent complaints mechanism for antisemitism or discrimination?

Do staff, volunteers, and panel chairs receive training on antisemitism and discrimination?

There has been antisemitism.
There have been sessions DEEPLY critical of the way Islam harms women.
There have been points raised about the harm of ALL religions to women.
THere have been sessions critical of governments.
That is called being adult.

But I have not seen an antisemitism

Many women arrived after the nastiness in the opening session
many women were not in the opening session
many women chose to go to events NOT mentioning the Middle East

focus on the good stuff and amplify and elevate that
rather than playing into the hands of detractors
(many of whom are not in Brighton)

Of course women who calmly state facts and say 'no' are considered 'troublemakers' by misogynists. so there is that.

I'm sure the Jewish women in attendance don't find all the antisemitism 'wonderful'.

🙄

This is such a nasty message. Tinsel has supported (without any money or support herself) so many transwidows who otherwise have little to no support. About as far from a 'trouble maker' as you can get.

apart from one small section from a speaker in the morning session I have not heard any mention of Palestine except as part of a wider mention of world wide war zones including Sudan, Yemen, Myanmar etc. I do think there are people determined to defame what is a wonderful conference by Filia

There's been multiple attacks on Jews at the conference, as to who 'they' are FiLiA need to make a statement.

From Madeline Warren on X

I’ve been to 4 meetings at the conference today. 3 of them were asking us to cheer on Palestine/ Hamas against Israel. In a completely off-topic way. I’m really disgusted.

who are the ‘they’? Have you read the post by@fabricstash

Why do they need to attack Jews at a women's conference?

My heart goes out to all the Jewish women in attendance who weren't aware of FiLiA's agenda.

This is not true - there was no talk arranged by FiLiA - please read what people actually here have said.

why can’t over 2000 women meet without being attacked from all sides!?

This is disgusting if true, what the hell is going on there?

Posted by Kellie-Jay Keen on X

Women who attend @FiLiA_charity surely know this organisation are scum, by now. Today a speaker from Southall black sisters gave a talk at filia stating she refused to condemn the actions of Hamas (violence against women) because the Israeli governmemt is evil and led chants of free Palestine. Several Jewish women left in distress.Who the hell still support these women??? Substack from milli hill incoming any minute now.

Edit: I can see it has been confirmed on the previous page.

How can women still support this obnoxious organisation?

Are you standing outside in a mask?

Thanks for confirming that only "nice" women will be acknowledged.

And thanks for confirming that FiLia is for well behaved women who will appropriate other women's work, and stab them in the back.

If you want your feminism curated for you so it becomes just another consumer event, that's your choice.

But clearly not an event of sisterhood and support.

Well it did seem a bit dramatic and more than a little bit Islamaphobic in places.

But from what others have said the instance of the chanting reflected more on the speaker, and the audience reaction hopefully made her think.

As I said I hadn't any interest in attending but having seen the speakers list it is clear that this year there is quite a strong representation of what used to be called socialist feminist. ie their first loyalty is as "socialists".

Although more dramatic is seeing the number of participants from the Actual Gencer Critical Left group who held the now infamous "elephant" workshop that resulted in a really long and informative thread on FWR (I think 2 years ago). And would explain why the US lesbian who was told she couldn't participate was excluded because she has been prepared to do what is called work across the aisle. For AGCL the worst crime in the world.

But why the originator of Trans Widows was not allowed to speak (lead?) the workshop on Trans Widows is baffling.

Equally bizarre is having other women speak about the outstanding achievement of FWS although will only be in attendance.

For those not familiar with the older socialist feminist grouping, it isn't as you might expect old Labour and working class roots. It is very academic and about leading.

Sorry to be negative.

I am sure everyone is having a great time because nearly always the best part of any conference are the conversation in the corridors and meeting up with old friends and making new ones.

There was mention on Twitter about a fringe event about the7yh October. Did that go ahead?