March for International Women’s Day

Updated: Sun Mar. 08 2009 6:39:44 PM

Organizers for this year’s march for International Women’s Day are
aiming to highlight a number of local and international issues.

“Every year, we march down the streets of Montreal and assert our
power to fight for our futures and demand justice for all. We take to
the streets to celebrate and stand in solidarity with the daily
struggles of all women, here, on occupied Indigenous land and
throughout the world,” says a statement from the group’s website.

This year, the organizers encouraged citizens to wear masks to show
support against a proposed bylaw at city hall that would ban protesters
from wearing masks.

The march

The march got underway a little later than planned due to daylight saving time.

Starting from Cabot Square on Ste-Catherine at Atwater, the
organizers had a few speeches planned before starting the group on a
route that would end at 2:30 p.m.

There were at least two stops planned: one at the army recruitment
centre for an anti-war speech and one at the Israeli Consulate for a
speech from a Palestinian woman.

Other speeches planned include a talk by a Sri Lankan woman about the Tamils’ situation.

Nice weather

As of 12:15 p.m. about 250 people had gathered.

According to organizer Mubeenah Mughal, at last year’s march there
were between 350 and 500 attendees, and that was in the middle of a
snow storm.

“This year it’s so nice out, so we’re expecting more people,” she
said “There’s children here this year,” where the weather at last
year’s march kept the kids at home.

Taken from CTV Montreal on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 from //montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090308/mtl_womens_090308/20090308/?hub=MontrealHome

Watch CTV Video Coverage //watch.ctv.ca/news/top-picks/womens-day/#clip147556