International Women’s Day meeting in Boston

An extraordinary and inspiring salute to women’s struggles in history and presently was held on March 31 at the Action Center in Boston, to commemorate International Women’s Day.

Rachel Hassinger, a Women’s Fightback Network activist, chaired the evening’s event. The panelists included Sandra McIntosh, co-chair of the Coalition for Equal Quality Education, who spoke about the struggle for justice for Trayvon Martin; and Jenny Rodriguez, a leader of the Northeastern University Food Service Workers, which is on the threshold of a major Local 26 union recognition victory.

Phebe Eckfeldt, veteran activist and Workers World Party organizer, gave a history of WWP’s support for and involvement in women’s struggles for reproductive justice — for health services, including abortion and contraceptive services and for medical care programs so that women can have and raise healthy children. She reviewed the important struggles to end racist sterilization abuse of women from African-American, Latina and other oppressed communities.

Nancy Kohn raised the worldwide struggle on behalf of the Cuban 5, U.S. political prisoners and the upcoming week of activities in Washington, D.C., to support them, and Miya X, leader of WFN and Politicin with the Sisters spoke about youth in revolutionary Cuba and the need to build the revolutionary movement here.

Professor Susan Massad addressed the lack of affordable health care for low-income women and their children. Tasha Campbell Parker, youth activist and HIV/AIDS educator, discussed the crisis today for people with HIV and AIDS.

The Women’s International Democratic Federation conference was reported on by Liza Green, a WFN organizer. This anti-imperialist gathering is set for April 6-12 in Brasilia, Brazil, and will take up the impact of the global capitalist crisis on women.

Women living under war and occupation in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine were hailed by WFN founder Maureen Skehan. She also laid the groundwork for important activities coming up: May Day and protests against NATO and the G8, and the need to build the independent movement in this year of capitalist electioneering.