Text and Images (c) Robert Barry Francos
Shortly after I moved to Saskatoon from Brooklyn in 2009, I was involved in a march against George Bush Jr. speaking at a local engagement. Now, I found myself once again into the fray in a solidarity march against the anti-women policies of Donald Trump and his administration.
It was expected to be about 200 people meeting at 10 AM on a cold Saturday morning at City Hall, but the number has been estimated anywhere from 500 to more than 800. It was a positive experience (unlike Bush, for which the march felt angry) which signs and speakers, but very little Hey Hey Ho Ho chanting. Yet we were all stout of purpose.
Organized by Karen Brander and Alice de Cloedt, the speakers included First Nations elder Marjorie Beaucage, City Councillors Danielle Chartier and Hilary Gough, and Women's and Gender Studies professor (recently from Chile), Manuela Valle-Castro. They roused the crowd who then set off on a mile or so march through downtown Saskatoon. For those interested, down 4 Ave S., right onto 19 St, and then right to go up 3 Ave S, and back to City Hall, where the parade broke up just after 11:30 or so. Some petered off at the end, others met back in the park in camaraderie.
I had the honor to be a marshal along the route (you can see me in my red vest at :37 HERE).
Shortly after I moved to Saskatoon from Brooklyn in 2009, I was involved in a march against George Bush Jr. speaking at a local engagement. Now, I found myself once again into the fray in a solidarity march against the anti-women policies of Donald Trump and his administration.
It was expected to be about 200 people meeting at 10 AM on a cold Saturday morning at City Hall, but the number has been estimated anywhere from 500 to more than 800. It was a positive experience (unlike Bush, for which the march felt angry) which signs and speakers, but very little Hey Hey Ho Ho chanting. Yet we were all stout of purpose.
Organized by Karen Brander and Alice de Cloedt, the speakers included First Nations elder Marjorie Beaucage, City Councillors Danielle Chartier and Hilary Gough, and Women's and Gender Studies professor (recently from Chile), Manuela Valle-Castro. They roused the crowd who then set off on a mile or so march through downtown Saskatoon. For those interested, down 4 Ave S., right onto 19 St, and then right to go up 3 Ave S, and back to City Hall, where the parade broke up just after 11:30 or so. Some petered off at the end, others met back in the park in camaraderie.
I had the honor to be a marshal along the route (you can see me in my red vest at :37 HERE).
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| Co-organizer Alice de Cloedt in the center. |
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| Marshaling the marshals. |
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| Matching, kinda-sorta |
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| Amateur and pro... |
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| Matching cat hats |
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| Would lead the march |
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| Speakers gather |
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| Two good friends I went on a road trip to Yellowknife with a few years back |
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| Dressed like a pussy-cat. |
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| First Nations elder Marjorie Beaucage leads off the rally |
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| City Councillor Danielle Chartier |
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| Marshals waiting to marshal |
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| Friend and photographer par excellent Aloy Fleishmann posing i foreground |
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| Alice did the speaker introductions |
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| First-term City Councillor Hilary Gough |
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| Professor Manuela Valle-Castro |
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| Marjorie leads the group in a First Nations' song. |
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| The March begins |
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| Happily, it was widely covered by the media |
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| Passing City Hall near the end of the March |
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| Group shot of front-line marchers! |
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| Brilliant umbrella (her idea) |
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| Favorite sign |
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| Networking |
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| Closing it down |
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