<\/p>\n
It was cold outside, but that did not deter them.<\/p>\n
A group of women, children and men gathered at the Huntsville Place Mall on Saturday, January 19, as they prepared to participate in the Women\u2019s March Muskoka and march for women\u2019s rights on Huntsville\u2019s main street.<\/p>\n
Community Coordinator for Women\u2019s March Muskoka, Kathleen May, thanked all volunteers and event committee members for their work as well as those who took the time to participate. She offered thanks and acknowledged that Muskoka is on traditional Indigenous land. \u201cI say these words to offer acknowledgement and thanks, but also to disrupt colonialism and stand in solidarity with Indigenous people over the institutions that oppress them.\u201d<\/p>\n
She hoped the event would continue to inspire people about how they can participate to bring about social change on a local, provincial, national and global level.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere remains disproportionate levels of poverty, abuse, discrimination, misogyny, inequality and prejudice toward women that is exacerbated at the intersection of physical ability and socio-economic status, gender identity and sexual orientation, immigrant status, race and creed. No woman should be excluded from the rights and freedoms that are fundamental human rights,\u201d she said to applause from those present.<\/p>\n
May called for a celebration of what makes people unique, rather than letting differences divide them. \u201cWe walk together in unison with a purpose to a common vision of a better world. We march away from violence, from the devaluation and dehumanization of women. Away from rape. Away from Indigenous women not being respected or heard. Away from survivors not being believed. We march away from racism and fascism, poverty and oppression.\u201d<\/p>\n
She asked those present to join in the conversation by telling those around them why they\u2019re marching. \u201cEquality,\u201d said one person. \u201cEqual pay,\u201d said another. Others shouted out that they were marching for justice, to end violence against women, for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, for a safe space for boys to grow, they were also marching against fear, in favour of education, for solidarity with the women of the world, in favour of children being taught consent in school, against homophobia and transphobia, in favour of celebrating different kinds of families, and for peace, love and diversity. A man also spoke out and said he was embarrassed of his fellow men.<\/p>\n\n\t\t