In Canada, December 6th is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada. This after a shooting that took place in 1989 wherein women who identified as feminists were the targets of a man with a hunting rifle who opened fire at Quebec’s largest engineering school.
“I remember December 6, 1989 like it was yesterday,” said Melanie Leavitt told VICE News. “It galvanized a whole generation of girls and young women, and older women too, to become more adamant in their feminism or to identify as being feminists, because if you hadn’t previously, suddenly you realized that just the fact that you’re a girl or you’re a women could make you a target. You could be killed for it.”
In addition to a vigil that is held yearly on December 6th, the day is also a call to action for society to help support girls as they stand up to violence.
Cover image courtesy of Shutterstock.
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