'Support them, not silence them,' Kerry tells China over 5 detained feminists: Vivie Behrens (Period 6, Week 8)

     Chinese authorities have detained five female activists in three cities, (Beijing, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou), for speaking for women's rights and advocating to end sexual harassment before international women's day on March 8th. United States leaders, John Kerry and Hilary Clinton, have both exclaimed that this act is "inexcusable" and that the U.S. will be fighting to free these women. None of the five women engaged in any illegal behavior and all were merely campaigning to end sexual violence and advocate for equality; however, Chinese authorities believe that they were "provoking trouble," which could lead to up to five years in prison.
     It is shocking that in the 21st century there is still a universal problem with gender equality. These women, who were only voicing their beliefs, (beliefs that are determined as righteous in most countries around the world), are now facing imprisonment because their views do not correspond with the views of their oppressive government. Similar situations in the U.S., such as the failure to pass the Equal Rights Amendment and provide equal pay to women, only show that gender inequality is still a prevalent problem internationally and needs to be addressed.

Source:
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/11/china/china-kerry-women-activists/index.html