2014: Invitation to the Press – International Support for Feminists
SUPPORT FROM AROUND THE WORLD POURS IN FOR FEMINISTS IN ISTANBUL
Support is pouring in from women’s and LGBTI organizations worldwide in response to the international solidarity call for the Feminist Night March, held in Taksim every March 8 since 2003. The shared wish in messages from internationally known feminist activists and writers is that the march not be obstructed.
Support is coming from women’s and LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex) organizations worldwide in response to the international solidarity call for the Feminist Night March, held in Taksim every March 8 since 2003. This year, an international solidarity call was made for the twelfth March 8 Feminist Night March, to be held tomorrow at 19:00 in Taksim at the Istanbul Feminist Collective’s call. In response, solidarity messages reached feminists in Istanbul from various parts of the world, from Italy to Croatia, Britain to Hungary.
Messages sent from all around the world celebrated the Feminist Night March’s twelfth year, emphasizing the strength of feminist struggle and women’s solidarity. The solidarity letters, also circulated by internationally known feminist activists and writers such as Christine Delphy and Cynthia Cockburn, express opposition to the possibility of the Feminist Night March being obstructed because of the security measures intensified in Taksim after the Gezi process.
“WE ARE FOLLOWING THE PROCESS”
Women who circulated statements in their own languages through websites or social media accounts also shared photos containing solidarity messages from the actions they organized for March 8. Through emails and faxes sent to the Ministry of the Interior, the Istanbul Governor’s Office and the Prime Minister’s Office, they also expressed their concerns about the march being obstructed and emphasized that they were following the process to ensure the safety of women gathering in Taksim on March 8.
Women’s and LGBTI organizations from many parts of the world, foremost the internationally organized AWID (Association for Women’s Rights in Development), the London group of the international anti-war women’s network Women in Black, and the World March of Women group in Italy, continue sending solidarity messages, saying they will sustain their support for feminists in Istanbul.
History of the Feminist Night March
The first March 8 Feminist Night March took place in 2003 from Taksim Square toward Mis Sokak. At the march, held with the theme of war and occupation, a banner read ‘Hitler, Mussolini, Sharon, Milošević, Bush, Saddam… All men: is that a coincidence?’ In 2004, women gathered at the same place again, this time marching on the theme of femicide with banners reading “men hit, the state protects; we want shelters, not graves.” In 2005, the march proceeded from Galatasaray toward Taksim Square, carrying a banner reading “we do not obey the male order.” In 2006, women marched with “feminist revolt” banners, and in 2007 with “feminist struggle against patriarchy, capitalism, militarism and nationalism.” The main slogan of the marches held in 2008 and 2009 was “feminist struggle against militarism, capitalism, nationalism and patriarchy.” In 2010, women shouted together “feminist revolt, we revolt against femicide,” and in 2011 “feminist struggle against the male-dominated order.” In 2012, the family was on women’s agenda; their banners read “we are women, not the family; we are in feminist revolt.” The Night March, which began with around 100 women in 2003, drew thousands of women in 2012. Thousands of women gathering on İstiklal Avenue shouted “long live our feminist struggle.” In 2013, women chanted “our lives, our bodies, our decisions are ours; keep your family for yourselves.”
For the March 8 video, please visit the address below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqAzUNG4S68
Date: Saturday, March 08
Place: Galatasaray High School
Time: 19:00