MONTREAL—Women of all colours and creeds took to the streets of Montreal on Friday night in solidarity with victims of violence everywhere. Nearly 400 marched to mark International Women’s Day.
While they chanted slogans and batted about statistics, one was on the lips of everyone attending. Every year, more than 100,000 Canadian women and children live in shelters because of violence.
“I don’t know of any woman who hasn’t dealt with violence in her life,” said Sonia Haddad, who brought her two daughters to the march.
“When you walk on the street, when you go to school, when you speak at an assembly because you have a big idea, you are often singled out because you are a woman and your voice doesn’t have as much importance.”
Stories of abuse and sexual harassment are an all too common story for most women.
“If you look at statistics anywhere in any country in the world you'll see that it's one of the most systemic problems in the world,” said Sarah Fischer, who marched against violence.
“We’re here to say that the struggle of women throughout the world is the same, we're unified, and we want the violence to stop,” said another marcher, Lillian Boctor.
Friday’s march began at Emilie-Gamelin Square just after 7:15 p.m. and moved slowly through downtown and the Plateau neighbourhood.
The demonstrators were not just denouncing violence against women, but also took aim at some social policies enacted by the Parti Quebecois government, especially cuts announced late in the week to the province’s welfare system.
“It's not just a matter of domestic violence on the contrary. We're looking at the systemic roots of violence whether it be poverty or the question of cutbacks to unemployment insurance,” said organizer Marie Boti.
Many said more efforts need to be made to empower women and prevent violence; native women are at greater risk than most.
Melissa Mollen Dupuis is with the Quebec chapter of the Idle No More movement, she says since the 70s hundreds of native women have gone missing, assumed murdered. According to the activist, the government and authorities are not doing enough to stop it.
“We are fighting to get people to see us as citizens, as humans and also as people who have the same rights to security to lively hood and to a future,” said Mollen Dupuis.
Celebrated for over 100 years, events took place around the world to celebrate the achievements and to highlight the need for greater social justice for women in many countries.
Vision Montreal party leader Louise Harel marked the occasion with a dance on the steps of city hall. She called on Montrealers to support struggles for equality around the world. She also spoke about the need for women in politics to strengthen democracy.
She pointed out that women are the majority in her party and she hopes the next step will be electing the first female mayor of Montreal.
