With the new worldwide rise of the feminist women’s movement, a response to the worsening conditions of oppression and exploitation resulting from patriarchal, neoliberal capitalism, and in Mexico in particular also to the growing violence against women simply because of being women, this year unitary activities are being planned in many cities of the Republic.
In Mexico City, an alliance has been forged called Asamblea Feminista Juntas y Organizadas (bringing together the Autonomous and Independent Feminist Assembly, Metropolitan Feminist Assembly-March 8 Coordination, and Independents), composed of feminist collectives, trade unionists, popular organizations, political groups and independent women to call for a unitary march and celebration of activities in a Zócalo Violeta for Sunday, 8 March, and to join in a national day throughout the country.
The political axes of the alliance reflect a class-based feminism, touching on violence against women and feminicide; against the National Guard; for universities and schools free of violence; against the precarization of labor, outsourcing and simulated contracts and against layoffs in the 4T; for democracy and union autonomy; for the recognition of unpaid reproductive work; for the right to decide, a free and chosen maternity and the right to legal, safe, free and gratuitous abortion throughout the country; for the effective separation of church and state; against: ecoccidal violence, dispossession and mega-projects; for justice for the murdered defenders of the land; in solidarity with international, anti-patriarchal, anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist struggles and for full rights and respect for sex-generational diversity and against hate crimes.
But, in addition, a feminist collective from Veracruz has called for a national strike on 9 March against feminicidal violence, in line with the international call that has had a growing worldwide echo since 2017, today with the participation of 35 countries. The growing violence in Mexico, and particularly femicide, has caused this call to have a strong response this year. In spite of the fact that right-wing sectors hypocritically want to support this demand in an opportunistic manner, we consider that all women who decide to stop on Monday 9th, and if possible carry out an active strike, should be welcomed. In no way should we stay home without going out, but rather go out and demand the life without violence to which all Mexican women have a right.
The feminist struggle in Mexico today is one of the most important independent movements, if not the most important. There can be no socialism without the liberation of women, and there will be no such liberation if there is no political movement to demand and support it. Let’s build it.
Heather Dashner Monk