Love in the Time of Rebellion

Episode #321: Growing up in Indonesia, Evy Zulyani found her passion for social justice early on, using her skills as a high school journalist to expose corruption. This experience gave her a first taste of how activism could transform society, even on a small scale. She found inspiration in community involvement, particularly through her work providing non-formal education to poor children, solidifying her belief in collective action and grassroots change.

After college, Evy joined an NGO supporting migrant workers, where she witnessed the deep systemic injustices faced by Indonesian women returning from working abroad. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Evy transitioned to digital activism, joining the Milk Tea Alliance—a transnational solidarity movement uniting activists across Asia. Myanmar's 2021 coup became a focal point of her activism, inspiring solidarity actions, including protests in front of the ASEAN Secretariat.

Evy's approach to activism embraces creativity and resilience. She organized unique protests in Jakarta like “Bike for Myanmar” and collaborated with artists and musicians, using art to express resistance to the Burmese regime. Despite facing burnout and exhaustion, Evy relied on her community for strength, emphasizing that activism could not be done alone. She also co-created 'The Dictator's Playbook,' a zine that educated activists on state repression tactics and strategies to counter them.

Above all, love is a central tenant to Evy's activism. She sees love as a radical, transformative act—essential in sustaining hope, protecting one another, and turning pain into power. “Love transforms the darkness,” she says. “I think love can radicalize you. If you go with the path of love, I think the power of love is limitless. So don't forget to love yourself and love others. Just spread love.”