Rear view of women protesting for equal rights against sky in summer
(Picture: Shutterstock / Maskot Images)A women’s charity asked supporters to donate $14.92 in an email - and it quickly received flak due to the offensive connotations of the number.
The organization, which developed out of the 2017 march and now conducts the yearly event, sent out an email with the subject line “$14.92.”
“We have an important favor to ask,” the email read.
Subscribers on the email list were then asked if they’d like to donate the $14.92.
Here it iiiis pic.twitter.com/SNYxbIjtlr
— Tobias Flenderson (@SirTobyFlenders) November 24, 2021
The year 1492 surrounds Italian explorer Christopher Columbus’ voyaging to the Americas via the Atlantic ocean.
Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter
Although Columbus still has a holiday named after him, several communities have renamed it Indigenous Peoples Day to honor the native people that Columbus massacred.
As a result, the organisation tweeted out an apology saying that it “was an oversight on our part.”
We apologize deeply for the email that was sent today. $14.92 was our average donation amount this week. It was an oversight on our part to not make the connection to a year of colonization, conquest, and genocide for Indigenous people, especially before Thanksgiving.
— Women's March (@womensmarch) November 23, 2021
Despite the apology, the group garnered ridicule from people on the right.
Former George W. Bush Press Secretary Ari Fleischer tweeted, “‘Let’s all chip in and raise the amount to $17.76. Then they’ll really lose their minds.”
“They don’t want your $$ (because they hate America SOOOO much), but please feel free to contribute $14.92 to our campaign! Or $17.76.Or $20.24. Happy Thanksgiving!” wrote Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).
On the other hand, the organisation Indigenous Women Rising wrote that “this is not a good look at all.”
“This proves that Indigenous people are inherently not even thought of in this movement. We are yet again another afterthought and IT IS F****** HURTFUL.”
Here’s what other people had to say.
Tbh, from Indigenous people, this is not a good look at all. This proves that Indigenous people are inherently not even thought of in this movement. We are yet again another after thought and IT IS FUCKING HURTFUL.
— Indig Women Rising (@IWRising) November 23, 2021
“We apologize deeply for the email that was sent today. $6.66 was our average donation amount this week. It was an oversight on our part to not make the connection to the Devil himself, especially before the non-denominational holiday season.”
— Max (@aoxamaxoa) November 23, 2021
We did it. We finally held the women’s March accountable for Columbus’ crimes. https://t.co/2PLXPSjbI0
— Nando (@nandorvila) November 24, 2021
This was unacceptable and in no way a coincidence. What will you do to solve the harm you've done?
— ace 🗯 🦚 (@TradNorm) November 23, 2021
Unacceptable. You need to take 4 cents off that amount to rectify things.
— bison dele (@bison1bison) November 23, 2021
Do better.
— Andrew Kloster (@ARKloster) November 24, 2021
You should hire at least ten more indigenous female staffers immediately. If it’s any less than ten staffers with full benefits and a living wage, you aren’t seriously sorry, and are still harming people.
How do you type this out, read it over and still think “yeah, let’s hit send!”
— JT Lewis (@thejtlewis) November 23, 2021
The organisation further noted that they are “committed to dismantling systems of oppression through nonviolent resistance and building inclusive structures guided by self-determination, dignity and respect,” according to their website.
