MEDIA ADVISORY - Toronto Women Organize Picket at Conservative Leadership Convention

TORONTO, May 25, 2017 /CNW/ - A group of women in Toronto are calling for action on Saturday, May 27 to send a message against hate while the Conservative Party seeks to elect its next federal leader.

"We're asking people to gather to join us in sending a clear statement to the Conservative party and all leadership candidates, that racism and hate is not welcome here," said Janelle Brady, one of the Toronto Women March On organizers.  "There is too much at risk to sit by and be quiet. Our resistance must be bold, it must be creative and it must speak loudly to overpower the hurtful voices of a few."

Members of the public are asked to join the picket and unite in solidarity with immigrants, racialized people and women all of whom have been the targets of several leadership candidates' hateful policies and platforms. Organizers hope that the picket will send a message to all potential candidates that the divisive rhetoric of Trump has no place in politics.

What: Picket at the Conservative Leadership Convention
When: Saturday, May 27 from 12 to 2 p.m.
Where: Toronto Congress Centre, 650 Dixon Road, Etobicoke
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/252194608581043/ 
Event Hashtag: #WomensMarchTO and #WhyIMarch 

Denise Hammond, another member of the organizing group said, "From Trump to Tories – we must resist every form of hate and not allow it to go unchecked. This is why we are calling on women to march on and keep pushing for a better future."

The group of women organizers were drawn together to after successfully organizing over 60,000 people to march and rally in downtown Toronto in solidarity with the Women's March on Washington earlier this year. Organizers of the group now named Toronto Women March On say that the recent US and European elections have opened the door to make hate speech acceptable. Their concern is the growing wave of targeted violence and rise in racism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and anti-immigrant bashing.

SOURCE Toronto Women's March Organizing Committee

or to arrange an interview please contact: Denise Hammond via email at [email protected] or call 416-937-1126.