International holiday embraces “Womyn power”
Chris Coplan - March 12th, 2008On March 8, all over the world men, women and children gathered to celebrate women and honor the accomplishments they have made.
NAU joined the global collaboration, with over a dozen people marching from the Dubois Center to Heritage Square in honor of the more than 100-year-old holiday.
Associated Students for Women’s Issues organized the march, which was complemented by neon signs and renditions of Tracy Chapman songs.
Signs ranging from “I respect womyn” to illustrations of the woman sign were proudly displayed while the chant “Woman power!” echoed down San Francisco Street.
According to the International Women’s Day Web site, 14 countries, not including the United States, observe March 8 as an official holiday that celebrates women.
This year’s celebration came only 12 days after the UN announced a new campaign titled UNiTE to End Violence against Women.
“It is a campaign for the women and girls who have the right to live free of violence, today and in the future,” said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to the Commission on the Status of Women in a statement from UNiTE’s Web site. “It is a campaign to stop the untold cost that violence against women inflicts on all humankind.”
The local march focused on commemorating the acheivments women have made, while a vigil that took place later that day at Taala Hooghan Infoshop honored the sacrifices women have given in the past and the oppression that they have faced.
The march concluded with a group chant for solidarity.