Women's rights march set for October 15
BY PATRICK O'NEILL
A "World March of Women 2000" has been called for October 15, sponsored internationally by a range of organizations defending women's rights. A demonstration will take place that day in Washington, and similar actions will take place around that date in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, Canada. Many international groups will converge on New York October 17 for a demonstration at the United Nations.
Events are also being organized in a number of countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East.
The organizers of the internationally coordinated action list a range of demands, such as equal rights, protesting violence against women, the fight against poverty facing millions of women, the right to health and education services, and cancellation of the Third World debt.
The march was initiated by the Quebec Women's Federation. In 1995 the federation organized a 10-day Women's March Against Poverty. The 850 marchers were greeted by 15,000 people when they arrived at the provincial legislature in Quebec City.
The Canadian Labour Congress and other union organizations in Quebec are helping organize the actions in that country. Demonstrations will take place in Montreal on October 14 and in Vancouver and Ottawa the following day.
The Washington march is being sponsored by the National Organization for Women (NOW). Some 200 organizations have also declared their support for the action, including the United Farm Workers and the state AFL-CIO bodies in Ohio and Maine. Organizers expect people to travel by car and bus from virtually every state. A number of international delegations will participate.
"We are organizing this national mobilization to stop the backlash against women's rights, and to push forward on those rights," said Alexandra Leader, executive director of NOW's New York City chapter, in an October 4 phone interview.
A leaflet produced by the New York chapter to publicize the march demands unrestricted access to birth control, abortion, public health care, and child care. It also calls for an end to sexual harassment and antigay discrimination.
In New York, buses will be departing for Washington early on Sunday, October 15. A return ticket costs $40. To reserve a seat call (212) 627-9895 or e-mail the office at mail@nownyc.org
That day, demonstrators will assemble in Washington at 11:00 a.m. at Freedom Plaza and begin the march and rally at noon.
Information on travel to Washington and other facts about the demonstration are available at www.worldmarch.org
In Boston, a rally has also been called for the day before the Washington action, sponsored by the Boston Coalition for the World March of Women 2000. For information, call Boston NOW at (617) 232-1017.
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