New Zealand – first to vote, first to march
Where better to begin the massive Women’s March Global movement than in the country to first give women the vote?
At 10.30 am on Saturday 21 January, hundreds of marchers in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin will lead the
world in the Women’s March Global movement. What will follow are 616 marches in all of the 50 US states and in 58
countries, who will march in solidarity with the Women’s March in Washington DC.
Women’s March Global is a proactive international movement that has galvanized people to defend women's rights and those
of others in response to the rising rhetoric of far-right populism around the world. While each person may have their
own reasons for marching, the aim is to bring people together to take a stand on issues that deeply impact everyone. The
Marches will seek to reaffirm the core values of freedom and democracy for all at a time when many fear that their
voices will be lost, specifically related to women’s rights, immigrant rights, worker rights, reproductive rights, LGBT
rights, environmental rights, rights for all races, and religious freedom.
This is an unprecedented, organic and viral grassroots global movement that is growing everyday. As of Wednesday 18
January mid-day New Zealand time, more than 1,032,000 people have committed to march all over the world – this has
occurred in just a matter of weeks.
New Zealand organisers currently expect 400 marchers in Auckland, 300 in Wellington and 200 each in Christchurch and
Dunedin but acknowledge these estimates could be blown out of the water if the international registrations are any
indication.
Spearheaded by first time-organizers and seasoned activists, the Marches are bringing together people of all
backgrounds, races, religions, gender identities, ages and abilities, as well as communities of immigrants. While led by
women, all are welcome to attend the marches.
Auckland marchers will gather at the US Consulate at 10.30 and will march peacefully to Myers Park where the lineup
includes Alison Mau, Jacinda Ardern, Tracey Barnett, Pani Farvid and the band AK Samba. #WMAkl
Wellington marchers will gather at Parliament at 10.30 am where they will be addressed by American-born Green MP Julie
Anne Genter and ChangeMakers Refugee Forum Chief Executive Tayyaba Khan, before peacefully marching to Wellington Civic
Square where they will join Love Trumps Hate, a festival celebrating democratic values. #WMWelly
Christchurch marchers will gather at Victoria Square at 10.30 am and march via the Kate Sheppard Memorial to Cathedral
Square. Speakers include Christchurch East MP Poto Williams. #WMChch
Dunedin marches meet at the Upper Octagon at 10.30 for a rally. Speakers include Labour South MP Claire Curran; music
will be provided by Matt Langley Heather LaDell, Aroha Ngatai and Pam Morrison. #WMDunedin
For more information on the Women’s March on Washington – New Zealand, see www.facebook/womensmarchNewZealand
Please follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/WMNewZealand
@WMNewZealand
You can find information about the New Zealand marches through these links:
https://www.facebook.com/womensmarchnewzealand/
Eventbrite for Auckland March
Eventbrite for Wellington March
Eventbrite for Christchurch March
And about the Women’s March on Washington globally:
WEBSITE: https://www.womensmarch.com/
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/Womens-March-on-Washington-1338822066131069/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/womensmarch
INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/womensmarch
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