2010 Feminist Night March

2010 Call to Action Feminist Struggle, Feminist Solidarity Against the Male-Dominated Order We feminists cry out once again on March 8 in Taksim Square at the traditional 8th Night March: We Want the Nights and the Streets This is a call from us feminists to come together at our 8th Night March with all women, side by side, heart to heart, word to word, to weave women's solidarity against male domination in a feminist way, This is a call declaring that we women as a whole will not be silent, that we have risen up against patriarchy, which makes women seem to be each other's enemies under different labels such as housewife, prostitute, mother, bride, mother-in-law, boss, manager, beautiful, ugly, thin, fat, blonde, dark-haired, wife, mistress, uncovered, covered, and makes women men's servants and slaves in every circumstance, This is a call to take to the streets for our freedom from women who have burned their bridges, saying my body is mine, do not touch my body: from making love when we want to eating as much as we want, from roaming the streets fearlessly at night to living alone, from marrying to not marrying, from bearing children to not bearing them. This is the call of women who cry out: we women own our labor, bodies and identities. This is a call declaring that women can be liberated only through feminism and women's solidarity. This is a call from women to women. All women are invited to our Traditional Night March organised for March 8, International Women's Day. Place: Taksim Tram Stop Time: Gather at 7 p.m., March at 7:30 p.m. Istanbul Feminist Collective

2010 Press Statement On the 100th anniversary of March 8 we say “Long Live Our Feminist Struggle and Our Feminist Solidarity!” We are still on the streets. We never sever the connection between our sisters who died in a textile factory in New York 100 years ago and the women killed at Özay and Pameks; despite low wages, threats of dismissal and socially insecure laws that condemn us to dependence on men, we say “Our labor is ours!” We do these endless tasks such as cooking, washing dishes, washing clothes, ironing, cleaning, caring for children and sick older people merely to feed ourselves. As we care for the world, feed it and clean it, the labor we expend for subsistence is not seen; moreover, we are exploited. We become more dependent on men, the family and the home. Women, onto the streets to be free; men, work at home! In 2010, on the 100th anniversary of March 8, three women are still murdered every day in Turkey. We will raise our voices in Taksim against the massacres of women. While we faced violence from those close to us in homes called “Our Nest”, we were also in court against men who wanted to kill our sisters with various excuses such as “I loved her so much”. Against the judiciary that supports male killers with excuses such as “he was provoked”, we say “The killing of women is political!” Against harassment and rape, we will not leave the streets. When they harass us, we will not be ashamed and we will cry out! We will stick our purple pins into them! On the 100th anniversary of March 8, in 2010, we are in Taksim for murdered women, where nights and streets have become threats to women. Over the past year three women were killed every day! The aim of men who commit crimes and men who protect criminals is one and the same! To preserve their power over women. We Have NOT FORGOTTEN Münevver, Güldünya, Ayşe and Pippa! We are deprived of institutions and organisations where we can take refuge and seek advice against men's violence. Municipalities that do not open shelters for women give millions of dollars in assistance to Capital of Culture projects and govern the city with budgets that disregard women. During your government, 953 women were murdered in the first nine months of 2009. If shelters are not built now, when will they be built? We oppose militarism for freedom and peace; we oppose militarist power centres that regard opponents as internal enemies! We reject the values of patriotism and nationalism in which dying and killing are sanctified. Against the detention and imprisonment of Kurdish women resembling lynchings and coups, we say “Long live women's solidarity, collective struggle and peace!” From Berçelan to Taksim, from Kadıköy to Esenyurt, we continue our insistence on peace. In Taksim, on the 100th anniversary of March 8, in 2010, we oppose homophobic anxieties and discriminatory and exclusionary practices against homosexuals, wherever and from whomever they come. We are here to say “Take your hands off my body!” The length of our skirts is not an invitation to men. We dress as we please and walk on the streets at night as we please. Our bodies belong neither to FATHERS, husbands, the state nor any other heavenly authority. For a world in which we are not oppressed or exploited, and can say our bodies, identities and labor are ours. Against the male-dominated order, Long live our feminist struggle! Long live our feminist solidarity! Feminist Collective

2010 Press Statement On the 100th anniversary of March 8, we say “Long live our feminist struggle and feminist solidarity!” We are still, again, on the streets. Never breaking the bond between our sisters who died in a textile factory in New York 100 years ago and the women killed by Özay and Pameks, despite low wages, threats of dismissal and laws without social security that condemn us to dependence on men, we say “Our labor is ours!” Cooking, dishes, laundry, ironing, cleaning, care for children, older people and the sick: we do these endless tasks for mere subsistence. As we take on the world's care, feed it and clean it, the labor we expend for subsistence is invisible; we are exploited. We become more dependent on men, the family and the home. Women, onto the streets for liberation; men, get to work at home! In 2010, on the 100th anniversary of March 8, while three women a day are still being killed in Turkey, We will raise our voices in Taksim against the massacres of women. While suffering violence from the men close to us in the home called a “Warm Nest”, we were also in the courts against men who attempt to take our lives and murder our sisters with various excuses such as “I loved her so much”. Against the judiciary that supports male killers as “provoked”, we say “Femicides are political!” We will not give up being on the streets against harassment and rape. When we are harassed, we will not be ashamed; we will shout! We will stick in our purple pins! In 2010, on the 100th anniversary of March 8, we are here in Taksim for murdered women, in this place where nights and streets have become threats to women. Over the past year, three women were killed every day! The men who commit crimes and those who protect them have the same aim! To preserve their power over women. We Have NOT FORGOTTEN Münevver, Güldünya, Ayşe, Pippa! We are deprived of institutions where we can find refuge and advice against men's violence. Local authorities that do not open shelters give millions of dollars to Capital of Culture projects while governing the city with budgets that disregard women. Under your government, 953 women were killed in the first nine months of 2009. Shelters: if not now, when? Against militarist power centres that brand opponents as internal enemies, we oppose militarism for peace and freedom! We reject the values of patriotism and nationalism in which dying and killing are sanctified. Against the lynching of Kurdish women and detentions and arrests reminiscent of a coup, we say “long live women's solidarity, collective struggle and peace”. From Berçelen to Taksim, from Kadıköy to Esenyurt, we maintain our insistence on peace In 2010, on the 100th anniversary of March 8, in Taksim, we oppose discriminatory and exclusionary practices against homosexuals arising from homophobic anxieties, wherever they come from. We are here to say “Hands off my body”. The length of our skirts is not an invitation to men. We dress as we wish and roam the streets at night as we wish. Our bodies belong neither to FATHERS, husbands, the state nor any otherworldly authority For a world in which we are not oppressed or exploited, in which we can say our bodies, identities and labor are ours... Against the male-dominated order, Long live our feminist struggle Long live our feminist solidarity Feminist Collective

2010 Programme MARCH 8, 2010 Istanbul Programme March 6 Saturday “In the 100th Year of March 8, Long Live Women's Organised Struggle” We are joining the Kadıköy rally. Time: 1 p.m. Banner: Feminists Meeting Place: Tepe Nautilus   March 8 Monday Feminist Night MARCH “Feminist Feminist Struggle and Solidarity Against Male Domination” is what we are marching for. Time: 7 p.m. Taksim-Galatasaray Meeting Place: Taksim Tram Stop Time: 8:30-10 p.m. “The Streets Are Ours, We Answer to No One, the Spell Does Not Break After Midnight” Street Party Place: Tünel Square Time: 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Entertainment Place: TMMOB Programme: SFK Rhythm Group DJ Hazal Tickets: 15 TL (2 drinks and nuts) For Preparations March 4 Thursday 1-5:30 p.m. Writing the Banner-Painting Flags-Writing Placards March 8 Monday 3-5 p.m. Getting Everything Together Before the Night March