The Women of Color Caucus Against Sexual Assault (WOCCASA) is a caucus comprised of women of color that are staff members of Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence or its member centers. The caucus is committed to the empowerment of all women and the eradication of oppression. WOCCASA supports women of color who work in the movement to end sexual violence through meetings, skill-building, and leadership development.
The group meets on a quarterly basis at rotating locations throughout the state. WOCCASA meetings are open to any member center advocates, staff and volunteers of The Alliance who self-identify as women of color. Please contact us for more information.
Language Matters
WOCCASA welcomes all women of Asian and Pacific Islander, Arab and Middle-Eastern, Black and African, Native and Indigenous, and Hispanic and Latinx descent. Activist Loretta Ross describes the origins of the phrase women of color as: “…a solidarity definition, a commitment to work in collaboration with other oppressed women of color who have been minoritized…” WOCCASA honors the heritage and origins of the phrase women of color. It is a group of women from various communities with the common experience of marginalization based on race and ethnicity.
Sexual Violence and Black Children
Elise Delacruz, our training and technical assistance coordinator, sat down with folks at the Moving Target Podcast to discuss the intersectionality of oppression and sexual violence, how black children, in particular, are affected, and the “Surviving R. Kelly” docuseries.
Ignored and Silenced
In the summer of 2018, singer R. Kelly released a 19-minute song called “I Admit” as a musical response to the decades of sexual misconduct accusations against him. New York Times reporter John Eligon spoke with one of R. Kelly’s accusers, Asante McGee, and one of our post-conviction victim advocates and Women of Color Caucus Against Sexual Assault leadership representative, Ashlei Flemming, to discuss how society ignores and silences black women’s voices when it comes to sexual misconduct.
Statement of Solidarity
After Michael Brown’s death, members of the Women of Color Caucus Against Sexual Assault created the following statement of solidarity.
We recognize that when communities are in crisis, there may be varying degrees of impact on the emotional, sexual, financial, or physical health of survivors. We consider our privilege and acknowledge that what is taking place in Ferguson can happen in Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, Bridgeport, or any of our communities.
We recognize that Michael Brown is no different from our sons, brothers, cousins, and other young men in our lives. We express deep concern over the shooting death of Michael Brown and the use of tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrations protesting his death.
We condemn any action of physical violence. We encourage all sexual assault advocates to speak up and stand in solidarity with the people of Ferguson. People of color are currently fighting for their rights. Although the media shows them as looters and criminals, this is certainly not the absolute case.
We stand with the family of Michael Brown, who was gunned down at the age of 18.