The #March4Justice rallies and marches across the country on March 14-15 made a clear statement about the need to end sexual violence and rape in workplaces. Organisers estimate that 110,000 women and their supporters came out in 42 locations across Australia.
Women, allies and supporters have had enough. A prominent chant called for Christian Porter to resign. Another was: "The women, united, will never be defeated".
About 5000 people, mostly women of all ages, came together in Perth on March 14. The speakers were largely Aboriginal women. Barry Healy said the solidarity from the crowd was "electrifying". Popular chants were: "Hey hey, ho ho, Christian Porter has got to go!" and "Tell me what a feminist looks like! This is what a feminist looks like!"
More than 200 people marched in Cairns on March 14, reports Angela Walker.
Organisers estimate that 10,000 people rallied in Sydney on March 15, Pip Hinman reports. The crowd spilled out of Sydney Town Hall Square, onto the tram line and around the corner while the first set of speakers addressed the crowd. It then marched to NSW Parliament for more speakers and closed with the crowd singing the feminist anthem "I am Woman" by Helen Reddy.
More than 5000 people rallied in Tarndanyanga (Victoria Square) in Adelaide, followed by a march along King William Street, reports Renfrey Clarke.
Five thousand people marched in Geelong, reports Sue Bull. Speakers included Sarah Hathway, union organiser in the health sector, MPfor Geelong Christine Couzens and City of Greater Geelong Councillor Belinda Maloney.
Two thousand people joined the protest in Hobart, spilling out of the park onto surrounding streets, reports Rose Matthews.
Alex Milne reports from Bendigo that around 500 people turned out to hear three speakers and all joining in a rousing rendition of "I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy.
An open mike was a safe space for more than a dozen women to recount deeply personal experiences of discrimination, rape and other forms of sexual violence, Steve O'Brien reports. The protest of more than 2000 people in Newcastle's Civic Park was chaired by Sara Motta, who introduced: Liann Taffe, a Warlga Ngurra woman and children's refuge caseworker; Helen Cummings, a domestic violence survivor and Lynda-June Coe who said there was a need to "burn this system to the ground".
