New York City rallies for International Women’s Day

New York, NY – A crowd of over 100 protesters gathered in front of the Philippine General Consulate in New York City on March 8, in honor of International Women’s Day. The action, titled “Women Rise Up, Resist, & Unite!”, put focus on ending violence against women and children in the Philippines. This included opposing President Duterte’s wars on drugs and the poor, as well as his remarks approving of sexual violence against women.

Along with the Philippines, speakers represented other movements that have been led by women, including labor, immigrant rights, and political repression. There were speeches about the New York State Nurses Association strike, against Mayor de Blasio’s jail expansion plan, and about the political repression of women activists both nationally and internationally.

After rallying in front of the consulate, the crowd marched to Trump Tower, another symbol of a president who’s made sexist remarks and enacted harmful policies against women and trans people.

Michela Martinazzi, co-coordinator of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle Northeast, closed out the event by highlighting victories women have played a large role in and how we can move forward in fighting back against women’s oppression and U.S. imperialism.

“Right here in the United States, we saw teachers strike for better working conditions, we saw airport workers stop a government shutdown, and we saw activists right here in Queens kick Amazon out. Abroad, we see fighters who stand up to the onslaught of violence brought on by their own government, but also by the United States. Around the world, we see women and non-binary folks who continue to stand up – from Palestine, to Venezuela, to the Philippines!”

The action was organized by BAYAN USA, International Working Women’s Day Coalition, International Women’s Alliance, and Malaya Movement Northeast.