International Women's Day 2013 - SUNY New Paltz, NY

"When women's rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!"

Women are rising up all over the world to demand an end to violence against women and for equal work, equal pay, equal choice and equal rights!  

At this commemoration of the 102nd anniversary of International Women's Day, 225 braved a freak snowstorm in New Paltz, NY to hear informative and inspirational speakers, hear great music and poetry and share in the good energy of people; female and male, young and old, black and white, and from all backgrounds, coming together to take a stand for women's rights!

The event was part of a nationwide action initiated by W.O.R.D.- Women Organized to Resist and Defend. Visit this new "grassroots, feminist organization dedicated to building the struggle for women's rights and equality for all" at http://defendwomensrights.org/.

Read more about the event, including summaries of some great speeches and a list of our 55(!) sponsors- http://activistnewsletter.blogspot.com/2013/03/03-14-13-activist-newsletter.html They included New Paltz Women in Black, a group I am a proud member of, the NY Civil Liberties Union, Hudson Valley Labor Federation, Amnesty International (mid-Hudson), Progressive Academic Network (SUNY), Ulster County Democratic Women and many. many more. Such widespread support is an acknowledgment of the fact that although we have come far in advancing women's rights, we still have far to go. It is also a response to the current reactionary forces that would take away our basic rights and our collective determination to not let that happen.

Thanks to the Mid-Hudson Activist Newsletter, especially to Donna Goodman, for organizing, to all who took part and to all who braved a snowstorm to attend! Hope you enjoy the video.