Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter
Yvonne Coke (left) of Hands Across Jamaica for Righteousness and Doreen Billings, head of Mother in Crisis, leaf through documents at Wednesday's launch of the 'Million Woman March', which is to be held on August 1. The launch was held at the Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A ROOM filled with a bunch of riled up women can be a scary place, but on Wednesday that room was filled with enthusiasm and oestrogen infused fervour for the upcoming 'Million Woman March'.
Yes, the 'Million Woman March', which should take place in Kingston on Emancipation Day, August 1, has officially been kicked off, and if the gusto of the march organisers is anything to go by, it is going to be one humdinger of an event.
SYMBOLIC PROCLAMATION
The march is intended to be a 'movement' against the nation's crime rate and a symbolic proclamation on the part of Jamaica's women that they will do all they can to end the surge of crime.
Doreen Billings, head of Mother in Crisis, the female support group which is organising the march, told a gathering of women from local churches, political parties and multimillion dollar companies at the Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, that the march will be the catalyst for a much needed change in Jamaica.
The promenade will begin at 8 o'clock in the morning at the National Stadium and culminate at Heroes Circle in Kingston. March organisers are asking all women who turn out for the event to wear white.
MOTHER IN CRISIS
Several companies, including Cable and Wireless, Island Grill, Hype TV and Sun Island Ltd., have offered to sponsor the event, and at yesterday's launch, one woman who received assistance from Mother in Crisis, threw her support behind the march.
Her name is *Theresa and she is the mother of two boys. A few years ago her husband was killed; he was stabbed 26 times. Now, the woman says she is left wondering if her husband's death was the result of something he did or something she did not do.
"I implore women to attend the march. Don't be left wondering if it was something you didn't do," she pleaded.
*Name changed
