Community members gathered on the streets of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside on Sunday to honour the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women in the 30th annual Women’s Memorial March.
The march started in 1991 in response to the murder of a Coast Salish woman on Vancouver’s Powell Street.
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“Out of this sense of hopelessness and anger came an annual march on Valentine’s Day to express compassion, community, and caring for all women in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, Unceded Coast Salish Territories,” said organizers in a statement.
Like many events, this year’s march looked different with all attendees donning facemasks and abiding by COVID-19 protocols. The march was also live-streamed online.
The message and importance of the march remained the same with survivors, family members, and community members coming together to not only honour the lives of missing and murdered women but to also send a reminder that physical and emotional violence continues to be a threat to women in the Downtown Eastside.
“This event is organized and led by women in the DTES because women – especially Indigenous women – face physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual violence on a daily basis,” said organizers.
“Despite a national inquiry being launched on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, the reality on the ground in the Downtown Eastside has not changed.”
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Today we march with love and solidarity for all the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in Canada and the DTES. This is the 30th anniversary, and the government needs to act NOW! Protect indigenous women and girls!!! #MMIWG pic.twitter.com/QoRIXKNVFg
— Markiel Simpson (@MarkielSimpson) February 14, 2021
No more stolen sisters! Scenes today from the 30th Annual Women’s Memorial March in the DTES. #MMIWG pic.twitter.com/nUUzQGXkn0
— Amar (@amarnijhawan) February 15, 2021
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