United Methodist Women rally in New York, Nashville

Translate Page

NEW YORK (UMNS) — A wet snowfall failed to dampen the spirits of United Methodists and other women who marched in midtown Manhattan March 8 for International Women’s Day.

United Methodist Women was among five organizations coordinating the march and rally near the United Nations, which focused on protection and support of human rights for women.

A couple of hundred women, along with a sprinkling of men, gathered at First Avenue and 42nd Street, then walked two blocks west and five blocks north to Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. With a small police escort, they occasionally stopped traffic. A few truck horns honked approvingly at an intersection as they passed by.

Among the marchers in the UMW delegation was Rusudan Kalichava from the Republic of Georgia, who was experiencing her first encounter with women from places like Sudan, Congo and Korea through her participation this week in the Commission on the Status of Women meeting at the United Nations.

Kalichava, co-founder of Association ATINATI, has worked on many projects assisting women, children and youth who have lived through conflict and violence. But, she said, she had little information before about how women in other regions were coping with the effects of conflict.

“I love the spirit of these women,” she said as she prepared to walk across 42nd Street. “I feel we are together and can say no to violence.”

The marchers fortified their soggy signs and wet feet with chants supporting women’s rights and calling for an end to violence against women and girls, the theme of the commission meeting, also known as CSW-57. “Break the silence, end the violence,” they chanted.

Speakers making brief remarks at the plaza included Nelly del Cid, a member of the UMW delegation to CSW-57. She is program coordinator of Mercy Dreamweavers in Honduras, where she trains facilitators of grassroots organizations in alternatives to violence.

In Nashville, Tenn., sunshine and springlike temperatures greeted UMW members who participated in an International Women’s Day rally.

The event, featuring remarks from Harriett Jane Olson, UMW’s executive director, and Yvette Richards of the United Methodist Missouri Annual (regional) Conference and UMW president, coincided with an organizational meeting at the Scarritt-Bennett Center.

Linda Bloom is a United Methodist News Service multimedia reporter based in New York. Follow her at http://twitter.com/umcscribe. Contact her at  (646) 369-3759 or[email protected].


Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

UMNEWS-SUBSCRIPTION
Poverty
Loaves of bread will help provide financial support for women in Sierra Leone. Screengrab courtesy of United Women in Faith, by UM News.

Bakery supports women in Sierra Leone

A bakery financed by United Women in Faith will provide economic opportunities for women in Sierra Leone. “The bakery is a legacy that will be profitable to the women today and to generations to come.”
Poverty
Urs Schweizer.  Photo courtesy of author.

When the poor share what they have

An agricultural program initiated by the United Methodist Church in Albania to help those struggling economically led to an inspiring act of charity.
General Church
Dr. David W. Scott. Photo © Hector Amador.

The many meanings of connectionalism

Church divisions have raised a host of questions about what it means to be connected, prompting a new look at this basic characteristic of Methodist community.