Thousands of people across Australia are expected to march for justice this weekend, marking the anniversary of last year’s event, demanding that the next federal government review sexual assault laws, secure increased funding for domestic violence, and introduce a national Gender Equality Act.
Protesters will join the March4Justice 2 on Sunday 27 February, across 20 official events planned and more than 200 private events registered in every state in Australia.
Marchers are invited to host their own event, join a public event, or join in from home by watching the live broadcast and sharing their participation on social media #March4Justice2.
Events across the continent will be loosely coordinated around an 11.30 am start time, but some locations have adapted the time to best suit their local communities.
Events across Australia
In Melbourne there will be a procession from the law courts to Parliament House, carrying The Lost Petition, an artwork created by Melbourne artist Dans Bains and featuring a heartbreaking 30 metre long list of 899 women and children who lost their lives to male violence from 2008 to 2021.
Whilst it was decided to cancel Sydney’s march this year organisers say people will be “marching in their homes and workplaces, from the mountains to the national parks and the beaches, gathering in safe groups where they can, protesting and watching the broadcast.”
The Gold Coast will hold a morning vigil at Justin’s Park, beside the iconic surf of Burleigh Heads.
In Western Australia there will be private events within the local communities, to keep the people safe as Covid cases surge.
In Brisbane the team have worked with Destroy The Joint, to create 689 banners representing the lives of women’s lives lost to violence (since 2012), and there will be private and public events held.
Adelaide Marchers will gather in Victoria Square to watch the live broadcast, at an event introduced by Vicky Welgraven a leading advocate for an end to family violence and a member of Adelaide’s AWLW steering committee.
Away from the major cities organisers say public events are being planned by local community’s.
Anne Carlin, March4Justice Lead Organiser for Gold Coast, said “I’m 68 and have been actively advocating for equality for women for 40 years. The year since March 4 Justice 2021 has been demoralising. Women won’t be silenced any more. We will keep making noise to create change.”
The Women’s March 4 Justice first took place in 2021 in response to allegations of systemic sexual assault and harassment at Parliament House.
The March4Justice2 events, hosted by Shelley Ware, will stream a live broadcast, featuring footage from events around the country at march4justice.org.au/live, from 11.30 on Sunday morning.
To read more about these events, to see the map with locations to join the protests or create an event, visit march4justice.org.au/where-will-you-march
