Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Take Back the Night and Sisters in Spirit Vigil This Weekend

Please join us at the Take Back the Night Rally & March this Friday Evening. Look for the Friends of Transition Houses Logo OR a giant green ribbon to walk with others from our network.

The Friends of Transition Houses Network will be at the Take Back the Night March on Friday, October 2, 2009 in Halifax.

Please join us in raising our voices regarding the lack of stable and secure funding for Transition Houses.

Please spread the word among your own networks and in your own community.

TAKE BACK THE NIGHT rally and march for women and children

When: Friday October 2nd starting at 7pm

Where: Victoria Square Park, Halifax

MC: National Spoken Word champion, El Jones Speakers, song, performers

What: Take Back the Night is a rally and march by, for, and about,women and children to reclaim the night from the threat of sexual violence.

Synopsis of what to expect: This year, women and their supporters will meet at Victoria Park(corner of Spring Garden Road and South Park Street) for 7 p.m. where a rally will be held. Our MC El Jones and speakers, performers, and song will pump up the crowd. After the scheduled program, women and children will march through the streets of downtown Halifax, passing the Citadel Hill, downtown bars, the Palace and the HRM Police Station. This march assertively reclaims the right for women to walk independently, and free from violence, rape, shouting obscenities, oppression and fear.

After the march, there will be a reception at theMicmac Native Friendship Centre with a healing ritual and a vegetarian serving.

Allies March: a gender inclusive space to resist sexual violence

We are encouraging people of all genders to take part in the allies march that will follow behind the women's march. The allies march is intended as a means for allies to meet, foster, and encourage additional feminist activism. The allies will show solidarity to women marching by carrying signs and banners expressing the right for women to walk the streets at anytime, day or night. Small tea lights will be made available (while supplies last), but feel free to bring your own light for the march. Bring family,friends --all welcome!

Why We March:

To stand together as women, refusing to be silent about sexual violence.

To state our refusal to take responsibility for sexual harassment, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, incest and battering, and recognizing that only the perpetrator of these crimes is to blame.

To celebrate the steps we are taking to support each other and to create change To experience the freedom of what it is like to walk at night and not be dependant on the protection of men.

To remind each other that as individuals we have strength and together we are even stronger.

To remember our sisters who have survived, and those who have been taken from us, as a result of sexual violence.

To shout out our desire to live freely without the threat and fear of violence.

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SISTERS IN SPIRIT VIGIL: Ending Violence Against Aboriginal Women

Location: Black Rock Beach, Point Pleasant Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia

When: Sunday, October 4th, 11:30am

What: To honour and remember the over 500 missing and/or murdered women in Canada, join us for a vigil, a talking circle, and community building with speakers and song. Refreshments to follow at the Micmac native FriendshipCentre.

Background: According to the Native Women's Association of Canada, there are 511 documented cases (and counting) of missing or murdered aboriginal women in the last 20years. On September 15th 2008, A group of walkers from British Columbia arrived in Ottawa to present to Stephen Harper over 3000 names of undocumented missing or murdered aboriginal women. In our own community, we have lost too many of our aboriginal sisters to violence.

Last Spring, near Mother's day, we lost Tanya Brooks: mother to five children, sister, daughter. Right now, our brothers and sisters in Burnt Church reserve are desperately trying to find their beloved daughter, 16 year old Hilary Bonnel. She went missing on the 5th of September and is presumed to beabducted.Violence against aboriginal women is too big of a problem to ignore.

Our communities need to be aware, and the violence needs to end. Halifax's 2nd Annual Sisters In Spirit Vigil is being held in solidarity with 31 other cities across Turtle Island that are organizing simultaneous Vigils on Sunday October 4th. Please attend this important vigil for all ages. There will be a ceremony and speakers from local support groups and community members. The event is being organized by the Dalhousie Women's Centre, Alana Lee, with support from Sisters are the Medicine and the Micmac Native Friendship Centre.

For more information, please contact:
Alanna Lee, Dalhousie Native Student Association. 293-1330 dylkenz@hotmail.com
David Parker, CKDU 88.1 FM campus and community radio. 494-2585. david@ckdu.ca
Elizabeth McCormack, Coordinator, Dalhousie Women's Centre 494-2432 dwc@dal.ca

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