On December 6th, 1989, 14 women were murdered at l’Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal — because they were women. This extreme act of violence focused national attention on the widespread problem of violence against women. Across the country people came together to transform their shock, pain and outrage into action. In St. John’s, an ad hoc committee made up of representatives from community groups has planned a memorial service every year on December 6th, which now has been declared a National Day of Remembrance and Action to End Violence Against Women; the committee took inspiration from the slogan on a YMCA/YWCA poster, “First mourn; then work for change.” Each year a part of the evening has been spent reflecting on the losses our society has suffered because of violence against women and then the work being done to bring about change is acknowledged. The Sexual Harassment Office, the Women’s Studies Department and the Women’s Resource Centre are organizing and hosting this year’s December 6th Vigil, followed by an evening of readings and music to commemorate Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
The vigil will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2008 in room EN-2006 (Engineering Building Lecture Theatre). Afterwards you are invited to join an evening of music and readings commemorating the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, hosted by the Sexual Harassment Office and the Women’s Resource Centre beginning at 8:00 p.m. in UC- 3018, 3rd floor University Centre.
MUNFA encourages its members to attend. For further information, and if individual members should wish to make a dedication of work at the vigil, please contact Jessica Rockwood at:
jessica.rockwood@hotmail.com or the Sexual Harassment Office, UC 3000, University Centre, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL A1C 5S7. Tel 737-2105, E-mail: sexualharassment@mun.ca; http://www.mun.ca/sexualharassment
