South Asian women rally in Vancouver against violence
The Canadian Press
Friday, April 06, 2007
VANCOUVER -- Murders and assaults of South Asian women are a backlash against the progress they've made in society, activists said Thursday as they rallied in Vancouver.
Elders in traditional Indian saris and teenagers in jeans congregated in the heart of Vancouver's Punjabi Market to put a public face on domestic violence within the Indo-Canadian community.
Three Lower Mainland women have been murdered in the last six months and another was shot in the head, but survived.
"A message is being sent to us [that] violent attacks against women are a backlash to our gains," said Raveen Mandair, a member of the group South Asian Women Against Male Violence, which organized the rally.
"They serve to remind us that we should not become too educated, not pursue successful careers, not try to live autonomous lives and definitely not have the power to leave the men who abuse us," Mandair said.
About 70 people clustered on a street corner in the mostly Indo-Canadian community.
Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh, a former B.C. attorney general, also attended the rally.
"Women need to lead this fight," Dosanjh said after the rally.
"They know where it hurts."
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If you live in the North Carolina Research Triangle Area please remember to attend:
SPEAKING THE UNSPEAKABLE
The Orange County Rape Crisis Center has invited noted South Asian women's activist, author and scholar, Dr.Margaret Abraham, to speak on violence against women in the South Asian community on April 19. Please join us as Dr. Abraham lifts the shroud of silence over the issue.
When: Thursday, April 19th 7:00pm
Where: UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapman Hall room 201 (behind Carroll Hall)
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