Women’s Solidarity March in Response to Nationalistic Discourse

TBILISI-  Wednesday, July 19 saw a Woman’s Solidarity March, accumulating around 200 people on Aghmashebeli street, and was organized by a collective of sixteen associations promoting women's rights, including Women of Georgia, the Independent Group of Feminists.

The demonstration was held in response to another protest that took place on July 14 on the same street, entitled the March of the Georgians, an anti-immigration and nationalist demonstration. It was also held in solidarity with Tatia Dolidze, a former Georgian Youth Delegate at the UN, threatened of gang rape by these same far-right leaders that organized the March of Georgians, because she criticized their march on social media. In response to this, banners from the demonstrators said: “We cannot be silenced by threats and hate” and “Rape is torture”. Police have already investigated these acts, saying they are “allegedly making threats”.

As the March of Georgians gathered around 2000 people and mostly men, the Women’s Solidarity March was also a way of denouncing the prominent role of men in politics and society. Organizers criticized the nationalist message as well, which, according to them, aims at avoiding economic and social problems.

The protest ended on Marjanishivili Square, where a number of speeches were held by the organizers. The message delivered was to promote the unity of women against oppressors of all kinds, especially in favor of the vulnerable, such as the disabled or members of the LGBTQ community. The demonstration also demanded a law to be passed against sexual harassment.

Photo source: ibtimes.co.uk

By David Mongazon