“When the men kill, it is up to us
women to fight for the preservation
of life.” - Clara Zetkin
International Women’s Day
(IWD) was first proposed by the
revolutionary Clara Zetkin, at the
second International Conference
of Working Women in 1910
in Copenhagen. International
Women’s Day was deeply rooted
in the fight against war from the
start, and Clara Zetkin’s words
above were spoken as the women’s
movement was taking up the
struggle against World War I.
Today we are facing a new era
of war and occupation, which
has brought destruction to
country after country, including
Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine,
Libya, Syria and Yemen. In these
wars and occupations, women are
the most impacted as they face
physical and sexual violence, and struggle to
protect and provide for the families that they
are the center of. While the women’s movement
has many struggles, including for equality and
against violence and sexual abuse, under war
and occupation these important struggles take
a back seat to just trying to keep families alive.
However it is also under these circumstances
that women are known to take up the lead
in movements against war, oppression and
injustice.
On March 10th, Mobilization Against War
and Occupation (MAWO) held an IWD
celebration, “Women’s Liberation and Building
the Antiwar Movement” in Vancouver. The
hall was full with men and women of all ages
and backgrounds, coming together to celebrate
and support equality and justice for women.
The evening began with a powerful welcoming
song and drumming from Kelly White, a
Coast Salish Indigenous elder and activist. The
MCs of the evening, Alison Bodine (MAWO
chair) and Janine Solanki (MAWO executive
committee member) opened the event speaking
on the situation of war and occupation around
the world, and the importance of women
taking a leading role in the antiwar movement.
The event continued with video clips showing
women around the world in the struggle
for a better world, from Venezuelan women
organizing their communities to a female
Palestinian hip hop artist speaking against
occupation and for women’s empowerment.
The audience then heard from Nabilah, a
Yemeni community member, who gave a heartfelt
speech on her experiences as a Yemeni
women and about the Saudi-led, US-backed
war against her country.
The audience was then brought to their feet
by the music of Jabulile Dladla, a former
singer with the Soweto Gospel Choir. The
room could not help but get up and dance
to the South African rhythms and Jabulile’s
incredible voice! The audience was then treated
to the brilliant voice of another talented
women, Kiki Connelly. Kiki, along with Brian
Broda on the guitar, encouraged the audience
to sing along and led the crowd in beautiful
and soul-touching songs. The evening also
featured poetry in three different languages.
Mayra Climaco, a Nicaraguan poet, former
Sandinista militant and long-time social
justice activist read some of her own poetry
in Spanish, translated also in English. Azza
Rojbi, a MAWO secretary and Tunisian social
justice activist, read poetry from North Africa
in both Arabic and English. Tamara Hansen,
coordinator with Vancouver Communities in
Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC) spoke about
the strong role, historically and today, of
women in the Cuban Revolution. She also
shared a special video message from Tania
Lopez Larroque, the Cuban Consul General
in Toronto, who extended greetings and
solidarity with the event.
The evening came to a close with more music
and dancing, and a feeling of inspiration
from having heard the music, poetry and
stories of so many strong, amazing women!
International Women’s Day is one important
day to celebrate, and a day to propel us forward
to continue fighting for women’s liberation
and against war and occupation every day!
Mobilization Against War and Occupation
Celebrates International Women’s Day!
Follow Janine Solanki on Twitter: @janinesolanki
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