MONTREAL TEACH-IN: COMMUNITIES OF STRUGGLE DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN — ORGANIZED BY FEMMES DE DIVERSES ORIGINES/WOMEN OF DIVERSE ORIGINS
On Saturday 18th April 2020 at 11am the Montreal-based organization Femmes de diverses origines/Women of Diverse Origins which includes among its members the South Asian Women’s Community Centre, organized the first of a series of teach-in.
It was held as a webinar and had close to 50 attendees, mostly from Montreal, but there were a few from other parts of Canada and from India as well. In their call-out they framed the teach-in thus: “The Covid-19 crisis highlights systemic inequalities caused by capitalism, imperialism, colonialism, racism and patriarchy.
Those of us who are low-waged, without status, are often on the frontlines providing services, food, and care to the rest of the population. We work in warehouses, delivery trucks, maintenance and personal care services, often without proper protective equipment at the risk of our lives. At the same time, we are often victims of physical and verbal attacks due to racism and scapegoating. Others among us who are laid off or unable to work, have little or no access to government support, or risk deportation or prison if we seek help. With rising incidences of domestic violence those of us who are in precarious situations have even fewer resources to turn to for support. Today frontline workers are called the ”guardian angels” and heralded as heroes. But once the crisis subsides, we are all too aware that workers in health and caring, women, frontline service providers, those earning minimum wage, the homeless and those living on social assistance, will be forgotten. In this first of a series of teach-ins organized by FDO-WDO we will hear from representatives of organizations in our network about the realities of our communities of struggle during the Covid-19 crisis.”
There were speakers from the following organizations: Association des
travailleuses-eurs temporaires et d’agences de placement (ATTAP); Comité
d’Action de Parc-Extension, Filipino Parents’ Association; Solidarity Across
Borders; South Asian Women’s Community Centre; Mouvement contre le viol et
l’inceste
You can watch the teach-in at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZRkZj1ZiKg&feature=youtu.be
Future teach-ins will look at the situation in member groups’ countries of
origin, alternatives, and lessons to take from the crisis in Montreal, Quebec
and Canada, as well as from around the world. The next teach-in will focus on
Iran and will take place on Saturday 2nd May at 11am. All teach-ins are open
all who are interested. To register for the teach-in write to: wdo.fdo@gmail.com