Rise and Resist - Uniting for a new world - International Women's day 2026

Once again women and their allies are taking to the streets of Toronto for International Women’s Day and demanding justice. We have seen the rise of the far-right in countries around the world calling for the roll back of hard won rights, fought for by the women’s liberation , anti-racist, 2SLGBTQ and Trans movements, and we are fighting back.

 

We need only look south of the border to the United States where right wing forces have been organizing for years, and have forced legislative changes that have taken away the reproductive rights of millions, denying the right to abortion, charging physicians and others who are heroically trying to provide this necessary health service. Grassroots groups often led by Black and Brown activists have been leading the fight against these devastating attacks.

 

The vicious repression of racialized migrants and immigrants by the Trump led federal government has brought deaths, injuries, imprisonment and deportations. ICE has terrorized people across the country, occupying cities and stomping on basic rights. We have seen the people of Minneapolis rise up against this. They have organized neighbourhood by neighbourhood, protecting their fellow Minnesotans of all backgrounds. Trade unions have organized with community groups and have built mass demonstrations and walkouts from workplaces. Their actions inspired people across the US and around the world.

 

The theme for International Women’s day in Toronto this year is “RISE AND RESIST! UNITING FOR A NEW WORLD”. It is building on the momentum of the broadening fight back. A diverse coalition/united front of trade unions and community groups comes together every year to organize a militant rally and march which attracts many thousands. The speakers this year include migrant workers, anti- racist activists, trade unionists in struggle, a leader from the Minneapolis movement and many more.

 

We are also seeing attacks on health care, education and social services by the provincial and federal governments. Canada’s federal government is organizing mass deportations of migrant workers and students. And they are organizing strongly against the deportations. The Carney Liberals are also strangling immigrant agencies through funding cuts and we are experiencing a drastic reduction in the federal public service with more than 40,000 jobs on the chopping block. This is just the tip of the ice berg with attacks on Indigenous land rights, increased military spending, support for the oil companies.

 

International Women’s Day came into being in 1910 when trade union and socialist women called for a day of commemoration of immigrant women workers in New York City who walked out of their workplaces in a fight for better wages, conditions and respect. We use their actions as an example of the power of working class people to fight back against the exploitation and oppression we are facing every day.

 

We know that we are up against powerful enemies, but “we are many and they are few”. If we join together and use the collective power that is ours in mass actions and strikes we can hopefully turn the tide against the far-right and governments who are trying to strip us of our rights, our jobs, and our dignity.

 

International Women’s Day is one example of this fight back and there are many more to come. On March 28th TEAM (Toronto East Anti-Hate Mobilization) is organizing a demonstration in Toronto’s Dentonia Park against the rise of hate and anti-immigrant racism. It will be joining similar events across Europe and the “No Kings” rallies happening throughout the US. We have to continue to broaden and build the resistance. All out March 7th and March 28th!