Women’s March 2019

Women’s rights are human rights, to achieve the rights and lessen the violence against women and girls, feminists and other human rights organisations are working throughout the world. This year on the third global Women’s March, more than 30 countries around the world gathered to protest against violence against women and the impact of policies of austerity. Organizers have released an agenda laying out a host of specific policy goals. The 71-page document endorses the universal healthcare program known as Medicare for all, and the Equal Rights Amendment, a constitutional amendment that would guarantee full legal equality for women.
UK:

In London, thousands gather for a two-hour rally outside Portland Place in central London at 12.30pm and march to Trafalgar Square by 1.30pm.  The first Women’s March started in 2017 when as many as 6 million people around the world gathered in protest at the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States. Following year thousands gathered in central London for the Time’s up rally, in honour of the campaign against sexual harassment and honouring the #MeToo movement.
This year, the global theme is ending violence against women and girls, and the theme of the London march has been named “bread and roses”. According to the organizers the theme of London March dedicated to the Polish-born American suffragette and workers’ rights campaigner Rose Schneiderman and reflects marchers’ “hunger to thrive and not just survive on bread”. Organisers accuse the government of ignoring the fact that women would suffer the most severe consequences in a post-Brexit Britain which might give the UK rally an anti-Brexit flavour.
USA:

This year the rally in USA organisers Tamika Mallory and Carmen Perez has been linked to the Nation of Islam leader, Louis Farrakhan, who has a history of making antisemitic and homophobic remarks. In November organisers issued a statement saying the movement existed “to fight bigotry and discrimination in all their forms – including homophobia and antisemitism – and to lift up the voices of women who are too often left out.”
Organizers have released an agenda laying out a host of specific policy goals. The 71-page document endorses the universal healthcare program known as Medicare for all, and the Equal Rights Amendment, a constitutional amendment that would guarantee full legal equality for women. Rallies take place in cities from Washington to Los Angeles but an antisemitism row has overshadowed the buildup. March organisers called for action to address violence against women, racial injustice and immigrant rights.
Global:

Marches are underway in London, Berlin and elsewhere in Europe, with demonstrations in New York, Washington DC and other North American cities set for later today.
Demonstrators gather for 80 events across 31 cities including London, Berlin and New York to protest violence against women and the gendered impact of austerity. Uma Mishra-Newbery The Women’s March Global interim executive director said: “That’s what keeps us going and we know that we have to stay focused because according to the UN one in three women will experience violence in her lifetime and that is what we should find shocking.”

> Alma Siddiqua