On November 14, the renowned Russian feminist punk rock and performance art group Pussy Riot made headlines with a bold and provocative art action in Indiana. The group, known for its fierce activism, collaborated with students from Indiana University to deliver a powerful message on reproductive rights. This culminated with a video titled “GOD SAVE ABORTION,” accompanied by a set of demands to challenge the intersection of church and state, particularly in matters of bodily autonomy.
The video, now available on YouTube, features Nadya Tolokonnikova, the founding member of Pussy Riot, articulating the group’s demands, which are as follows:
OUR DEMANDS:
1. We demand a Pussy Riot representative to be appointed as an official advisor to each state’s supreme court, as experts on the separation of church and state, as well as the importance of bodily autonomy
2. We demand the separation of church and state
3. We demand access to LEGAL and SAFE abortion for every person in the United States
4. We demand limitations of government control over our bodies
From the description of Pussy Riot’s “GOD SAVE ABORTION” video
Tolokonnikova emphasized the group’s concern for vulnerable populations, particularly individuals in red states where reproductive rights face increasing challenges. Indiana, where the protest took place, holds significance as it was the first state to outlaw most abortions after the landmark Roe v Wade decision was overturned. The group sees state supreme courts as wielders of unchecked power, symbolizing an intertwined relationship between religious institutions and legal systems.
Inspired by Martin Luther, Pussy Riot presented their theses, starting with the declaration “GOD SAVE ABORTION.” This explosive statement serves as a rallying cry against the anti-abortion trend spreading not only in the United States but also in the group’s home country, Russia. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, has been urging the State Duma to ban abortions in private clinics.
“GOD SAVE ABORTION” is part of a broader reproductive rights campaign of art actions that Pussy Riot plans to launch in the coming year. The lyrics of the piece, presented in both English and Russian, call on the Virgin Mary to become a feminist. This echoes the group’s iconic “Punk Prayer” protest from February 21, 2012, emphasizing their undying commitment to the cause. For over a decade, the group has been a pillar of strength for the hopeless and downtrodden.
Pussy Riot has always meant to bring hope to hopeless situations – whenever I fail to see any hope, I turn to art. It helps me to make my message more loud and clear. Art is like a magic wand, it’s a very special instrument. Resist, organize, find like-minded people. And, most importantly, vote. I know you hate the system that failed you, but it’s in your power to change it, even if it seems otherwise.
Nadya Tolokonnikova
Beyond their focus on reproductive rights, Pussy Riot stands for gender fluidity, inclusivity, matriarchy, love, laughter, decentralization, anarchy, and anti-authoritarianism. The “GOD SAVE ABORTION” art action in the Indiana Supreme Court stands as a bold statement against the encroachment of religious ideologies into matters of reproductive rights. Through their demands, the group aims to challenge the status quo, urging for a reevaluation of the separation between church and state. As Pussy Riot continues to use art as a form of activism, its message resonates not only in Indiana but reverberates globally.
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