Step It Up Ontario - End Violence Against Women

Newsflash

^{Find your candidates! The EFTO, a Step it Up! supporter, has a great chart on its website keeping track of candidate selection. Check it HERE and then send your candidates the Step it Up "Platform for Parties". Ask them to respond. To find riding check Elections Ontario in both English and French . Click on Find Your Electoral District at the top right hand corner.}

^{We had an absolutely rockin' rally on Thursday in Toronto!! The speakers were mobilizing and the spoken word and song performances were moving, inciteful and just plain eloquent in every way. We so appreciate the words and music, the chants and action participation of those who attended. Unfortunately, no media attended. (Big shock!) We feel sorry for the folks that weren't able to join us today, but there's still time to be part of it. HERE is our rally action piece! Get out your cell or pick up a land line and get connected to the action!! Pictures and video coming soon.}

^{Women in Kingston question the candidates! Read the story HERE. Picture in our photo gallery.}

^{Survivor Voices raised in support of Step it Up! Read their story HERE in the Tillsonburg News.}

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Charges against women withdrawn

Statement by the Women Against Poverty Collective on decision to withdraw charges against WAPC members
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Women take police space

Taking over the courtyard of Toronto Police Headquarters in downtown Toronto, women used direct action and talk to raise the issues.

They reminded the crowd about the excessive use of force used on women June 3rd and subsequent refusals by police officials and Mayor David Miller to speak to them about the police action.

At the same time, organizers restated their demands for housing for women experiencing violence and women from the group spoke of their experiences at the Housing Takeover and their experience of personal violence, racism and intersecting oppressions.

They make it clear that they'll continue their struggle until something is done about their demands for housing as a right.

"The government thinks and the cops think that if they brutalize us enough, that we'll back down in our struggle for safe housing. But they forgot that we come together because we're already survivors of violence and we've already survived that. And organized together to take direct action to improve our lives and gain safe housing," said one of the organizers.

Along with the speakers, creative street theatre and poetry, as well as 'speaking out' by members of the crowd brought to life the reality of violence in women's lives, the multiple impacts of violence on women from marginalized communities and the lack of response and criminalizing of women survivors by police, systems and governments at all levels.

Housing rights action July 19

This action coincides with the first court appearance of four members of the WAPC arrested at the Housing Takeover action last month.

On June 3rd, hundreds of women, trans people and their allies marched through the streets of Toronto to 4 Howard Street, one of hundreds of buildings in the the city that have been allowed to sit empty and deteriorate until they fall down or must be torn down.

Four women from the Toronto Women Against Poverty Collective had already entered the building, claiming it for affordable housing for women by women.

The group outside erected a 'tent city' in support of the women inside, but several hours into the peaceful gathering, police used excessive force to move the crowd. Giving little or no warning, police aggressively cleared the demonstration and used horses to push women into small, confined spaces, creating a very unsafe situation.

The four women in the house were arrested and charged. Another woman from the crowd was also arrested and appeared in court on July 8th.

At the protest rally, there will be speakers and spoken word talking about the issues of violence and poverty in women's lives. After the rally, supporters are welcome to accompany the defendants into the court at College Park Courts (Yonge and College streets at College Park).

The Step it Up! Platform for Parties is a list of measures the Government of Ontario can do in the next government term—if the political will is there—to advance the goal of ending violence against women. These ‘steps’ help all provincial political parties understand our goal and how to get there. They build on the ’10 Steps to End Violence Against Women’ created by the Step it Up! Campaign. Download the pdf of Platform for Parties HERE .

Ask your local MPP!

Is your Party working to implement our Platform for Parties?

The 10 Steps to End Violence Against Women

Understand that violence against women is an equality rights issue.

Recognize that male power is upheld by rape and sexual harassment.

Stop racism/ oppression; make Ontario accessible.

End poverty — NOW!

Create and maintain housing, non-profit childcare, training — NOW!

Provide fair access to justice for women.

Hold violent men accountable for their actions.

Stop criminalizing and psychiatrizing women.

Demand secure funding for women's organizations.

Listen to survivors and women's advocates — they are the experts!

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