FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Annual Downtown Eastside Women’s Memorial March
WHAT: Press Conference for 26th Annual Women’s Memorial March
WHEN: Sunday February 14 at 11:00 am
WHERE: Carnegie classroom, 3rd floor, Main and Hastings
MEDIA PROTOCOL: Please note there will be NO MEDIA PERMITTED in Carnegie Theatre during the family remembrance between 11am to noon. Media may record the march that begins at noon at Main and Hastings, except NO recording of the ceremonies that take place during the march.
February 8, 2016 VANCOUVER, Coast Salish Territories- The February 14th Annual Women’s Memorial March is held on Valentine’s Day to honour the memory of all women from the Downtown Eastside who have died due to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual violence. Now in its 26th year, the march brings courage and commitment to end the violence that vulnerable women in the Downtown Eastside face on a daily basis.
The February 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee is hosting a press conference at 11 am in the Carnegie Center’s 3rd floor classroom. The march begins at noon on Main and Hastings.
“The government’s current plan for the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women should focus on three key issues: the overall status of Indigenous women in Canada, addressing systemic and male violence against Indigenous women, and safe and respectful participation of families and loved ones including families of the heart, frontline workers and Indigenous feminist organizations,” says Fay Blaney, co-chair of the February 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee.
The February 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee was founded in 1991 when a woman was found murdered on Powell Street. For 26 years, the Committee has been a leading voice on the issue and has raised local, national, and international attention on violence against women.
According to the Women’s Memorial March Committee “Increasing deaths of many vulnerable women from the Downtown Eastside still leaves family, friends, loved ones, and community members with an overwhelming sense of grief and loss. Indigenous women disproportionately continue to go missing or be murdered with minimal action to address these tragedies or the systemic nature of gendered violence, poverty, racism, or colonialism.”
In Vancouver, friends and family members led by Indigenous women move through the DTES and stop at sites where women died or were last seen to offer prayers, medicines, and roses in remembrance.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Fay Blaney: 778-714-0161
Carol Martin: 604-445-9923
Myrna Cranmer: 604-215-0264
Mabel Nipshank: 604-809-6504
Evelyne Youngchief: 778-888-1687
– For French media interviews, contact Cori Kelly: 778-709-6494
– For general media inquiries or to set up further interviews, contact Harsha Walia: 778 885 0040
Feb 14th Annual Womens Memorial March 
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