NDP Statement on the Women’s March

Sheila Malcolmson, NDP Critic for the Status of Women, made the following statement:

“Today millions of people across North America and around the world are marching for women’s rights and human rights.

The political rhetoric of the past year has insulted, demonized and threatened women, immigrants, Muslims, people of colour, the LGBTQ community, indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, and survivors of sexual assault.

The influx of hateful and divisive politics cannot be traced to one man or one nation; we’ve seen it in our neighbourhoods, on our streets, in various political ambitions, and yes, online and in social media.

Today we unite against sexism, xenophobia, bigotry and all forces of hatred that prey on ignorance and manipulate those left behind by the economy.

It is more important than ever, that we stand together in common cause. As Rosemary Brown, the first black woman elected to a legislature in Canada, said: “Until all of us have made it, none of us have made it.”

We do not question the legitimacy or the results of the democratic process, but rather we come together to proclaim that hate itself has not won. We commit ourselves to the belief that love is better than anger, hope is better than fear, optimism is better than despair.

We can change the world. We’ve done it before, and we’ll do it again.”