For the second year in a row, the CNT (Spain) and USI (Italy) are calling for a feminist general strike in their respective countries for March 8, International Women’s Day. (Pictures and documents from last year’s strike can be viewed at http://nosotras.cnt.es/).
In the months that have elapsed since the previous strike, feminism and women’s struggles have achieved some spectacular and enormously important victories. From the fighting in northern Syria, where the militia comrades have fought against the misogynistic fascism of DAESH in the front line, to the advances in reproductive rights in Argentina and Ireland, as well as the “#MeToo” movement against systematic harassment in the United States, there is no doubt that some great progress has been made. The feminist strikes of 2018 were a milestone and a reference around the world, and are a part of this progress.
However, we still have a lot to do. Especially when we realize that the defense of a caveman-style, retrograde patriarchy arises from the most reactionary and misogynistic sectors of our societies. Machismo and misogyny have entrenched themselves along with xenophobic nationalism and are at the core of many of the intransigent populisms that eat away at the planet. That is why the struggle of women is the defense of freedom, without any temporary measures.
On March 8, the sections and friends of the International Confederation of Labor will carry out all the actions they can in their areas in defense of feminism and the struggle of women. In the cases of Spain and Italy, this includes new calls for a general strike. To all of them, to the comrades of all genders who organize and carry out these actions, we wish them the greatest success, and the conquest, always, of a greater freedom.
Long live March 8!
Long live the struggle of working women!
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