[mobglob-discuss] Women's Center activists arrested for occupying govt office

[Bella]

For Immediate Release
Media Advisory
March 12, 2004


BC Coalition of Women's Centres Take Over Office at Legislature and Have
Been Arrested

BC - Five representatives from the BC Coalition of Women’s Centres are
refusing to leave an office at the BC Legislature this morning after a
meeting with Ida Chong, Minister of State for Women’s and Senior’s
Services. All of the representatives have been arrested.

The Coalition went into the meeting with two requests: a commitment from
Ida Chong to re-open the continuing agreement between the Government and
the 37 Centres across the province with the intention to continue to fund
crisis intervention, referral and emergency response services and to
arrange an emergency meeting with Finance Minister, Gary Collins on this
same issue.  The Coalition has conceded the advocacy and political action
services they provide that have been seen as so problematic for this
Government.

The Government is cutting 100% of core operating funding to all Centres by
March 31st, 2004, which is resulting in the closures of Centres across BC.

The members of the Coalition refuse to willingly leave the Legislature
until Ida Chong comes back to the table to have an open and honest
discussion about the realities for women in BC.  The Coalition is fed up
with the BC Liberal rhetoric on women’s services; the discussions to date
have amounted to lip service and lies.

The BC Liberals have subjected women to more than our share of devastating
legislation and cuts.  They continue to put women at risk of starvation,
harassment, violence, homelessness, addiction, unemployment, lose of their
children, and isolation, with no legal aid and nowhere to turn.

Today, the BC Coalition of Women’s Centres is saying enough is enough. 
Government rhetoric is no longer an acceptable response to the women of
BC.

The Coalition has also asked Ida Chong to arrange a meeting with Finance
Minister Gary Collins before the end of March 2004.  Excuses such as being
too busy or otherwise unavailable are not acceptable to the Coalition.

The situation for women and Women’s Centres is an absolute crisis and the
BC Liberals must now treat it as such.


Contacts:

Benita Bunjun:  604-727-0292  or 604-255-6554
Deanna Ogle:  604-719-1760
Debra Critchley:  250-307-0741