Here is the full video of Ukraine's women-warriors' address to Russians. I am so proud. pic.twitter.com/EOzS9YlU9W

— Nika Melkozerova (@NikaMelkozerova) March 7, 2022

They remind me so much of the YPJ, the Women’s Defense Forces of the Syrian Kurds. Even though I am against war and against violence, I believe in the right of self-defense, and I have always admired the Kurdish project of Rojava and the Kurdish attempt to form a cooperative economy centered around the rights of women. As in Ukraine, the Kurds have had to use force of arms to keep nearby armies from killing them.

The Kurds were our allies in the fight against ISIS, where they fought valiantly to rescue Kurdish and Yazidi women held in bondage. Trump betrayed our Kurdish allies and put the entire Rojava project in danger, though the YPJ still exists in some form.

I hope with all my heart that we do better by these brave Ukranian women, and keep up support for all the Ukrainian people.