I am standing here because

I know my poetries are bad but it won’t stop me from writing. Writing is a journey of a writer and here I showed you who I am. My flaws, bad and gramatical error, my feelings, my hopes and dreams. Here a poetry I read at Women’s March 2021 in Bonn, Germany.

I am standing here because,

An Indonesian woman named Maria Ulfah

She is the first women who studied in Europe and return as an activist and feminist scholar

Without her I won’t be able to be here, to become a scholar, and pursue my higher education

I am standing here because,

Women named Clara Zetkins, Kate Duncher and Paula Therde

They strived for international Women’s Day

So every women worker could gather today and shouting women’s demand for a better future

I am standing here because

A woman named Mabel Ping-Hua Lee,

She is a Chinese advocate for women’s suffrage after World War 1

Even though she was an immigrant like me, she participated and fought for civil rights without discrimination.

I am standing here because,

Three women named Patria, Minerva, María, and Teresa Mirabal died because they opposed the authoritarian regime in the Dominican Republic

They taught us to stand on what is right, even death was the price

We remember their date of assassination as a day to fight violence against women

I am standing here because,

A woman named Wangari Maathai who being demonized as a woman in her country, Kenya.

Because she fights for environmental justice and women’s rights

I am standing here because,

A girl named Kya Sin or Angle who just shot dead in Myanmar last week

She demonstrated against militarism coup in her country

I am standing here because,

Those women without names and not even recognized

But they fight on what is right, to pursue education or serve their family

Sometimes they got beaten to death by their domestic partner,

Or exploited as a workers

Facing death in the middle of their struggle

I am standing here because of all women

Who fights for their rights

Yesterday, today and tomorrow

Nadya Karima Melati,

Bonn, 2021