Coalition of women's organizations plans events during Women's History Month in March

ASSIGNMENT EDITOR for Saturday 11:30 AM

Press Release

Coalition of women's organizations plans events during Women's History Month in March-- Major focus on Harriet Tubman on 100th Anniversary of her death and special tribute to President Hugo Chávez

International Working Women's Day Coalition Events

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3/7/13 Media contacts:

Dolores Cox: 212-807-6722 or Sara Flounders: 201-388-7428 wfnetworkny@gmail.com or go to: iacenter.org.

On Facebook at: International Working Women’s Day Coalition

A coalition of community-based women's organizations that has organized events for the past eight years have announced plans for women's events in Manhattan, Harlem, Brooklyn and the Bronx to celebrate women's struggles. The events include a rally and march on March 9th, starting at the site of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in Manhattan, and tributes to Harriet Tubman on March 10 at Harlem’s African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, in Brooklyn at Boys and Girls High on Sat. March 16 and in the Bronx at the Bronx Art Space Gallery on Sunday, March 24. All events are open to the media and are free. There will also be a special tribute March 9 to the late President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela -- the leader of the ongoing Bolivarian Revolution that promotes the rights of women especially those of African and Indigenous descent.

The schedule is as follows:

*MARCH 9, Saturday* 11:30 a.m. in Manhattan 23-29 Washington Place Speak Out & Vigil on the theme "Every issue is a woman's issue" at the Triangle Shirtwaist Memorial, where in 1911 women workers died in a factory fire. 1 p.m. March & Rally -- our contingent will join a rally called by Women Organized to Resist and Defend (WORD) in Washington Square Park Three events in March to celebrate the life of Harriet Tubman -- a freedom fighter - on the Centennial of her March 10 death:

*MARCH 10, Sunday* Honoring the Warrior Spirit of Harriet Tubman Worship Service 11am – 1pm 1:30 PM –Short film & discussion African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church on the Hill, 975 S. Nicolas Ave. Info: 212-650-5008 Asantewaa Harris @ City College of NY

*MARCH 16, Saturday 1- 4 p.m. * Boys and Girls High School at 1700 Fulton St, Brooklyn Videos and readings on Harriet Tubman, along with artwork and poetry, followed by a communal meal. Program co-sponsored by the the CARE Center, a youth program.

*March 24, Sunday 3 p.m*. Bronx Art Space Gallery at 305 E 140 St. @ Alexander Ave., Bronx Vignettes on Harriet Tubman, in Spanish and English, along with artwork & more. This program is co-sponsored by Women Workers for Peace & La Peña del Bronx.

BACKGROUND TO EVENTS

Monica Moorehead, from the Women's Fightback Network and one of three coordinators of the Coalition, explained: "International Working Women's Day, March 8, and the entire month of March provides important opportunities to reflect on the inspiring roles that women have played in movements for social justice. Just as importantly, we will show that the challenges for women come in all forms as the capitalist economic crisis intensifies. The motto for our coalition is 'Every issue is a woman's issue,' which means we have the right to housing, education and health care; childcare, food, union-paying jobs or a livable income; and not mass incarceration, violence, war and occupation."

Brenda Stokely of the Million Worker March Movement and a Coalition coordinator described the significance of focusing on Harriet Tubman. "Our focus on Harriet Tubman is because she dedicated her life to struggle, to fighting the brutal, vicious system of slavery. She accomplished her own freedom and the freedom of hundreds of others in life threatening situations. And she did it with less tools than we have today. We should dedicate ourselves to claiming power in this country and to fundamentally changing the economic, political and social system that destroys the lives of so many. We need to focus on women's involvement 365 days a year, especially to get women to understand their role in changing society.”

Irma Bajar, of FiRE - Filipinas for Rights & Empowerment , the Vice-Chair of International Relations of GABRIELA USA and another coordinator of the IWWD Coalition explained, "The International Working Women's Coalition has been a growing coalition for the past eight years that recognizes that the crisis of capitalism and imperialism is the root cause of the critical issues that weigh heavily on women here in NYC and all over the globe thus creating an inclusive space that encourages women, LGBT folks, community, and our allies to unite, resist, and fight back to build the women's movement here in the belly of the beast.”