Occupy San Francisco celebrated International Women’s Day on March 10 with a spirited march and rally. The rally started at Bradley Manning (Justin Herman) Plaza, where over 100 tents once stood in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street national protest movement.We marched through the financial district chanting, “Hey hey! Ho ho! Sexism has got to go!” and “Women’s bodies, Women’s lives! Women’s right to decide!” Along the route, the organizers from OSF planned stops at specific locations and gave information about the connection to women’s rights.
The first stop was the Federal Reserve Bank, where occupiers had camped out starting in October 2011. We also stopped at Bechtel, one of the biggest builders of nuclear plants in the U.S. Bechtel is responsible for manufacturing chemical weapons that among other things have had a massive impact on reproductive health for the women of the countries in which they are used. As we approached the Hyatt Hotel—infamous for its ruthless anti-worker policies and its refusal to sign a fair contract with its union workers—we began chanting “Boycott Hyatt! Defend women’s rights!” An OSF organizer spoke of the awful conditions the housekeepers, the vast majority of whom are women, face at the Hyatt.
As we made our way to the end rally at Sue Bierman Park the crowd chanted “Sexism has got to die! Hella, Hella Occupy!” and “They say get back, We say fight back!” The many speakers at the rally gave powerful and inspiring speeches. This was not just a celebration of women. This was recognition of the struggles that came before us and the struggle that must continue. The activists spoke of the mounting attacks on women all around the country and the need to build a mass movement to fight back.
ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) activist and Party for Socialism and Liberation member Michelle Schudel spoke of the origins of International Women’s Day and its relevance to our struggle now. She also explained that socialism is an alternative to the exploitation of women by the ruling class and that capitalism creates and incubates women’s oppression. Among the protesters here was a sense of anger and fear about the rising tide of oppression, but there was an obvious determination—of men and women alike—to step up and fight tooth and nail for equality and women’s rights.
