The Council of Canadians Comox Valley chapter will be standing in solidarity with the ‘Women’s March on Washington’ at a gathering in Courtenay on January 21.
Chapter activist Alice de Wolff has posted on Facebook, “Bring your signs and banners. We don’t plan to make speeches, but do bring your favourite drums, chants and songs. Word-of-mouth organizing: please let all your networks know!”
The details are here:
Comox Valley Women’s Solidarity Gathering
Saturday, January 21st
10:00 – 11:00 AM
Court House Park (across from Thrifty’s)
England Ave & 6th Street, Courtenay
The website for the Women’s March on Washington states, “The rhetoric of the past election cycle has insulted, demonized, and threatened many of us – immigrants of all statuses, Muslims and those of diverse religious faiths, people who identify as LGBTQIA, Native people, Black and Brown people, people with disabilities, survivors of sexual assault – and our communities are hurting and scared.”
It adds, “The Women’s March on Washington will send a bold message to our new government on their first day in office, and to the world that women’s rights are human rights. We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us.”
Toronto’s NOW Magazine reports, “The rally was initially organized the day after Trump was elected to counter his misogynistic views towards women, such as the sexist rhetoric he used throughout his campaign. That message has expanded to include broader social and human rights issues including race, gender, religion, sexuality, immigration and healthcare.”
The Women’s March on Washington website notes there are currently 616 protests around the world planned with a total 1,364,010 people expected to participate.
Along with the Comox Valley chapter, our Mid-Island and Victoria chapters will also be participating in local rallies. London chapter activist Roberta Cory – who is noted in this CBC news report – will be in Washington for the main march which is expected to draw more than 200,000 people.
In Canada protests are also being planned in Vancouver, Kelowna, Bowen Island, Gabriola, Kamloops, Kootenay Bay, Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, St. Catharines, Kingston, Ottawa, Hamilton, Montreal, Sutton. Fredericton, Saint John, Halifax, St. John’s and North West River.
The Council of Canadians is committed to working with our American friends and allies (and all peoples impacted by neo-liberalism and racism) to oppose the Trump agenda and build the better, just and inclusive world we all know is possible.
