sorry if I'm offending anyone but I'm very frustrated.
After hearing about Dr. Tiller's murder I was very shaken. I immediately started looking for vigils or other relevant events in Los Angeles (or anywhere in southern California for that matter). I couldn't find ANY.
I have been donating to a few feminist organizations including the feminist majority foundation (who sent me updates on dr. Tiller's clinic previously) for a few years. So I decided to call them. The person who picked up the phone told me that everyone is in a lunch meeting and that they will call me back with info.
I thought that maybe they are all in a lunch meeting planning a vigil.
Instead I got a voice mail an hour later saying:
"We're not sure whether there is a vigil in los angeles, We know that there is a big one in NY. Sorry we couldn't help you with that but hopefully if there is one you'll find out where it is. good luck! Bye!"
I am fuming. I knew about 10 other vigils going on and I didn't need them to tell me that they heard there is "a big one" in new york. I expect groups like this to do something to bring people together at times like these. I don't know what to do with all these huge lazy organizations that I send money to every week. Should I stop sending money? Should I send an angry letter to their headquarters on the east coast telling them about this?!
Los angeles is officially a lonely place to be a feminist.
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Wow. That's completely unacceptable. I can't believe in that hour, nobody could go to google and find a vigil for you. Or ask around the place and see if anyone new. Gosh.
I'd send in a donation of $0.01 next time, with a note telling them why.
Wow, I'm sorry. I expected that here in the Bible Belt, but in L.A.? Please know that, despite the lack of a vigil, you're not alone!
That's pathetic. And I find it laughable that they would suggest a nice, big vigil on the other side of the country.
Plan one yourself if the resident organization isn't going to help you, isn't that what feminism is?
Thank you all for your support. I guess I should add that this was the Los Angeles office of this foundation (not one in another state). I called them again and told them that as a member I expected them to have something planned. Especially because a vigil is not really that complicated or difficult to organize for a large organization like them.
Maybe they will decide to do something later in the week. I can only hope.
basketcasey,
no, I don't think that's what feminism is. Feminism is not about everyone doing everything. I cannot afford the time to plan a vigil. But I am more than willing to help and that's what I was hoping for.
You're not alone. I, too, spent much of the day looking for a vigil in L.A. Apparently there was a gathering in Woodland Hills on Sunday night...but I haven't seen evidence of any other planned events.
Change it. Create a facebook group called "Feminists in LA" or something like that. Find people, communicate.
I agree. It is very disappointing that you were unable to find a vigil in the area, but connecting with other feminists in the area via a facebook group, or twitter, or myspace, or meetup.com, etc. will be an easy way to find like-minded people.
You won't have to plan an event on your own, but perhaps if you get a group of pro-choice feminists together, someone will have time. Or by simply having the group assembled, you already have a group for a vigil, and you can simply advertise the event through the same means you contacted the others. All it takes is one person to get things going, and I think you will be pleasantly surprised as to how many people there may be in your area who feel the same way you do- frustrated, pessimistic etc. and are just waiting for something to get started!
Best of luck, and either way, I hope you get to participate in a vigil.
I know I'm very late on this - I too was looking desparately for a vigil for Dr. Tiller...only to be severely disappointed. I recently moved to L.A. from the east coast - still searching for a feminist community. I had no idea L.A. would be, as you say, such a lonely place to be a feminist.
There must be more of us out here!