Over 100 people participated in the New Brunswick World March of Women in Fredericton Oct. 17.
The World March of Women is an international feminist action movement connecting grassroots groups and organizations working to eliminate the causes at the root of poverty and violence against women. The World March of Women stands in solidarity with the struggles of women around the world against the inequalities produced by sexism, racism, ableism, homophobia and transphobia in the context of colonialism and capitalism.
Occurring every five years since 2000, the 2015 New Brunswick World March of Women gathered at the Old Maliseet Burial Grounds and marched to the Legislature where a rally then took place.
Kelsey Nevers and Lyne Boudreau, the co-chairs of the 2015 NB World March of Women Organizing Committee, welcomed the public and introduced community members who spoke on themes of gender and diversity analysis, economic equality and violence against women. Rally speakers demanded transgender healthcare access, access to abortion services, justice for murdered and missing indigenous women, universal childcare and pay equity in the public and private sectors.
Following the rally, marchers made their way to Wilmot United Church for lunch and a teach-in. Fredericton’s Raging Grannies performed a satirical song called “No More Isms.” Wolastoq elder Sharlene Paul spoke about violence against Indigenous peoples, Gül Çalişkan spoke about refugee and migrant worker needs and Jody Dallaire discussed the history of the women’s movement as always being a collective one, with no heroines but rather groups of women who triumphed despite having little power.
Raquel MacLean is a St. Thomas University social work student working on a placement with the 2015 NB World March of Women Committee.
