NANAIMO – On January 20th, Nanaimo’s second annual women’s rights demonstration is scheduled to begin at Diana Krall Plaza at 10:00 AM. The end of the march route is Maffeo Sutton Park where there will be speakers, performances, and activities until 12:00 PM.
The goal of Nanaimo Women March On 2018 is to raise awareness of women’s rights issues, amplify the voices of minority women, and encourage local community building and to motivate people to take everyday actions to learn about, raise awareness of, and prevent gender-based violence. This annual women’s march is recognition of movement building.
“We support March On, the Women’s March, and anyone organizing to realize a peaceful, intersectional march in service of gender justice, anti-racism, decolonization, LGBTQ2+, and diversity in age and ability,” the organizers state on their Facebook event.
Spearheaded by local activists and organizers, and with the help of many individuals and community organizations, event organizers Deborah Hollins, Kathleen Reed, Lauren Semple, Chantelle Spicer, Melissa Stephens, Anne Taylor, and Lesley Anne Clarke, have launched an organic, grassroots effort in solidarity with the massive women’s rights demonstrations planned across Canada for January 20th, 2018. The organizers aim for an inclusive march that will bring together people across Nanaimo and the mid-island, particularly women of all backgrounds, races, religions, ages and abilities, as well as communities of immigrants, people of colour, and people who identify as LGBTQ2+. While led by women, organizers welcome and encourage all allies to attend.