Two years after the division between the historically heterogeneous feminist movement materialized, the wounds remain open. And the appointment of a new Minister of Equality, the socialist Ana Redondo, seems that, at least in the short term, she will not succeed either. The confrontation between the two factions is important: those against the trans law and supporters of the abolition of prostitution (feminists more closely linked to the socialists), on the one hand, and those who favor the trans law and avoid issues such as prostitution and wombs for hire (movement very close to Podemos).
However, yesterday, after long months, voices calling for unity began to be heard.
The demonstrations in Madrid were the ones that gathered the most participants, but they were less massive than in previous years: 2,000 according to the Government Delegation (25,000 according to the organization); more numerous in the afternoon. And, for the third year, divided into two: the first, convened by the Madrid Forum against Violence against Women (they have been doing it for almost 30 years) and in the afternoon, the supporters of the trans law, organized by Commission 8 – M. In both, despite the differences, similar chants: “We are not all there, the murders are missing”, “We are women, we want to be alive” or “We are the cry of those without a voice”.
The morning demonstration had the presence of part of the socialist team of the Sánchez Government, with the newly appointed Minister of Equality, Ana Redondo, making it clear what her position is in this division on the rights of women women. Next to her, the spokesperson for the Government, Pilar Alegría; the Minister of Science and Universities, Diana Morant; the Minister of Housing and Urban Agenda, Isabel Rodríguez; the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska; the president of the Congress of Deputies, Francina Armengol; and the former vice-president of the Government and socialist deputy, Carmen Calvo, in addition to organic and institutional positions of the PSOE.
The new Minister of Equality called for the “unity” of the feminist movement throughout Spain to “weave the sensitivities” that have generated divisions in recent years and fight together against “all types of violence towards women” . Redondo compared feminism to “a great orchestra” in which there are “different tones and sensitivities”, but what is really “important is that the melody” is the same so that the “soundtrack” he seeks is felt “high and clear” fight “all violence”. For this reason, he announced that his first steps are to meet “with all the groups that have been distanced” in recent years, although he did not want to delve into the reasons that have caused the division within the same feminist movement
The afternoon demonstration took place under the slogan “Silence, impunity, violence are over.” Today we come out for our pain, for our murdered comrades. Not one less. All women suffer violence, but not in the same way”, said a spokeswoman for the 8-M Commission.
Among his assistants, ex-minister Irene Montero, accompanied by her team at Equality (Ángela Rodríguez and Victoria Rosell, among others). The former minister, acclaimed by the attendees, also appealed to the unity of feminism to combat gender violence, as did the Minister of Youth and Children, Sira Rego (Sumar). Vice President Yolanda Díaz excused her presence due to minor health problems.
Montero asked to “defend the right of women to live free from sexual violence, to live free lives already, to live without fear” and emphasized that “silence is an accomplice of the aggressors”. In this regard, she reminded women who suffer from gender-based violence of any kind that they are not alone. “It is important that the word gets out about the fact that all women who are victims of sexist violence have the right to a specialized psychologist or a lawyer, even if they do not file a complaint.”
Minister Sira Rego, accompanied by deputies from Sumar, was convinced that the feminist movement will once again be united around the same goal.
The Government held an institutional event in Plaça Sant Jaume in Barcelona. Also in Barcelona, ??as in all of Spain, there were demonstrations in which several thousand people participated. In the Catalan capital they marched under the slogan “25- N. Enough sexist violence. Is over!”. The feminist organizations convening this mobilization called for a common front “against the various forms and expressions of sexist violence”. Among the attendees, the president of Junts, Laura Borràs, who defended the need to “denounce all forms of violence against women”, and ERC deputy Raquel Sans, who warned against denialism and the ultra-right.
