This past weekend I got some really great photos from Kubra via social media.

 

An art piece is gifted to me from US by #JoyComplex @JoyComplex merci beaucoup pic.twitter.com/Q6G1ckA06V

— kubra khademi (@kubrakhademi1) February 20, 2016

@JoyComplex An art piece is gifted to me from US by #JoyComplex merci beaucoup pic.twitter.com/WNx87oK04A

— kubra khademi (@kubrakhademi1) February 20, 2016

When she contacted me late last year letting me know that she had seen the pendant I created inspired by her Armor I immediately offered to send her a pendant.  She received it and had a friend take some photos of her with it on.

I'm so gratified that she has this pendant.  I'm also happy that she is safe in Paris after she had to go into hiding following her walk wearing her armor in Kabul.

We live in a sad and uplifting world.

Hopefully through changes big and small and with strong brave people like Kubra leading the way, we can turn the world into an even more uplifting place.

I also received this wonderful photo from Carolin Gutt.

 

Carolin walks with @kubrakhademi1! Each sale supports @WAWHumanRights! #WomenNotObjects https://t.co/vchJko9pT7 pic.twitter.com/YSDVToWaHZ

— Joy Complex (@JoyComplex) February 19, 2016

One more person is out there in the world walking with Kubra. Small things, even small things like a pendant, can have ripple effects. Let's change the world one small step at a time!

I Walk With Kubra Khademi Pendant

In October 2014, there was a video showing what Shoshana Roberts encountered walking down the street in New York City during a 10 hour period. She "wore jeans and a crew neck t-shirt." There was a lot of news about that video including an Op-Ed by the artist published by The New York Times. She's currently tweeting about tv shows on Netflix and fun times she had sledding. [picture]

On March 7th, 2015, Afghan artist Kubra Khademi donned a suit of armor to protest the mistreatment and harassment of women in Afghanistan. "Her audience, almost entirely male, threw insults and stones, and quickly gathered into crowds. Most seem to have missed her point, leering at her throughout, with some trying to grope her from behind around the armor.[source]" She walked for a total of 8 minutes before she had to jump in a car and flee for her life.

 

Do you know how much coverage there has been in United States media as of March 15? Let's just say, if you looked in The New York Times for any coverage you would find ONE article. From the Associated Press.

Since her 8 minute walk she has suffered death threats "warning Khademi that she was 'a feminist activist who will be killed soon' . . . She has already narrowly escaped an attack by three men, and is living like a fugitive, but has no plans to scale back her art or ambitions. “I would never be stopped … artists can’t be stopped. For now, I’m just waiting for this to die down.” [source]

I created the "I Walk With #KubraKhademi Pendant" so that people can show solidarity with brave women like Kubra Khademi and raise awareness about her art and her struggles. This pendant is modeled on Kubra's armor - symbolic of what women have to endure around the world - from insults and cat calls in New York, to stones and death threats in Afghanistan.

Each pendant I sell makes $20.00 USD. On a quarterly basis, ALL profits from the sale of this pendant will be donated to Women for Afghan Women - a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to securing and protecting the rights of disenfranchised Afghan women and girls in Afghanistan and New York, particularly their rights to develop their individual potential, to self-determination, and to be represented in all areas of life: political, social, cultural and economic.

Please spread the word about Kubra. I would also like to thank mariemeierart for getting Kubra on my radar. You should check out the piece she is creating showing her support for Kubra.