Association of Feminists Fighting Fascism, Imperialism, Refeudalization, and Marginalization (AF3IRM)

AF3IRM released a statement after the results of the 2024 presidential election that argued that by electing former President Donald Trump, the United States had “once again elected a fascist into power” by using “agents of patriarchy” to win the “popular vote.” ²

AF3IRM opposes the 2028 Olympic Games, which as of December 2024 was scheduled to be held in Los Angeles, through a partnership with left-of-center activist group NOlympics LA. NOlympics LA cites high costs, displacement of local populations, and climate change as reasons for its opposition. NOlympics LA was created in 2017 by the Housing and Homelessness Committee of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). ^{3 4 5}

Background

The Association of Feminists Fighting Fascism, Imperialism, Refeudalization, and Marginalization, known as AF3IRM, is a left-of-center transnational feminist organization. It was previously known as the Gabriela Network when it primarily acted as a feminist organization. It was founded in 1989 that focused on feminist issues in the Philippines. ^{1 6}

The organization was rebranded as AF3IRM in 2010 and, as of December 2024, had chapters across America in Los Angeles, New York City, San Diego, Boston, and Hawaii. ¹

2024 Presidential Election

The Association of Feminists Fighting Fascism, Imperialism, Refeudalization, and Marginalization released a statement after the results of the 2024 presidential election showed that former President Donald Trump had been elected to a second term. According to the statement, the United States had “once again elected a fascist into power” by using “agents of patriarchy” to win the “popular vote.” ²

The statement continued by claiming that American politics “are designed to center U.S. imperialist interests, and relegate women of color and our communities to the margins.” The organization stated it will continue to push for “genuine liberation for women of color” and continue to fight against a “racist, imperialist patriarchy” after President Donald Trump retook office. ²

2028 Olympic Games

NOlympics LA is an activist group that opposes the 2028 Olympic Games scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, California. It cites high costs, displacement of local populations, and climate change as reasons behind its opposition. The organization was created in 2017 by the Housing and Homelessness Committee of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). ^{3 4 5}

As of 2024, NOlympics LA was protesting the proposal for the city to host the 2028 Games. At that time, it boasted that it had over 24 partner organizations in California, and had connections with a growing list of international organizations. Organizations partnered with NOlympics LA include AF3IRM; Ground Game LA, a left-of-center voter mobilization group; Los Angeles Community Action Network, a Los Angeles-based left-of-center organization that works with low-income and homeless people in parts of Los Angeles; Anti-Racist Action, a radical-left group with chapters in the United States and Canada that is explicitly committed to the Antifa ideology; Solidarity, a socialist organization that advocates for far-left policies within the United States and worldwide; and Black Lives Matter. ^{3 4 7 8 9 10 11}

People

Jollene Levid is the founding chairperson of AF3IRM. Levid was the Southern California director at an Service Employees International Union (SEIU) health care local union from 2004 until 2013, when she became a union organizer for SEIU 721, another Southern California chapter of the SEIU. ^{12 13}

Levid became a part-time lecturer at the University of California, Los Angeles from April 2024 until July 2024. She became the lead regional organizer for United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) in April 2015, a position she still held as of December 2024. UTLA is the main labor union representing teachers and other staff of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) in southern California, the nation’s second-largest school district. ¹²

Funding

AF3IRM chapters have been funded in the past by private grantmaking foundations including the North Star Fund, a grantmaking foundation that supports left-leaning organizations in New York City and the Hudson Valley of New York. The foundation granted AF3IRM $5,000 as part of its 2018 spring grants to organizations operating in New York City. ¹⁴

AF3IRM Hawaii is listed as a grantee of the Hawai’i People’s Fund, a collaboration of activists and donors who provide support for Hawaii nonprofit organizations. AF3IRM NYC is listed as a grantee of Resist, a left-wing 501(c)(3) nonprofit that primarily funds ideologically aligned local activist groups with modest budgets. ^{15 16}