The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

PERSONS AGAINST RITUAL ABUSE - TORTURE

Photo by Jeanne Sarson, December 9, 2003

History: On the afternoon of December 6, 1989, a man walked into Montreal’s l'École Polytechnique carrying a semiautomatic rifle. Once inside, he carefully separated the women from the men, then shot and killed 14 women, injuring 13 more because they were women. He then killed him-Self.

December 6 has since been proclaimed the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. We come together to celebrate women as seen in this photo of Linda and Bag Piper Cindy Johnson, in Truro, NS, and to reaffirm the

“… fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women …” as stated in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

It is also a solemn time. A time to remember all the women globally who are killed because of the bias of misogyny—the hatred of women.

Especially remembered are the fourteen women who were victims of the Montreal Massacre at l'École Polytechnique on December 6, 1989; they are

Geneviève Bergeron
Hélèn Colgan
Nathalie Croteau
Barbara Daigneault
Anne-Marie Edward
Maud Haviernick
Barbara Klucznik Widajewicz
Maryse Laganière
Maryse Leclair
Anne-Marie Lemay
Sonia Pellitier
Michèle Richard
Annie St-Arneault
Annie Turcotte

The following three Status of Women links provide some background on the Montreal Massacre at l'École Polytechnique on December 6, 1989:

http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/newsroom/news2003/1206_e.html

http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/dates/dec6/index_e.html

http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/dates/dec6/victims_e.html