Rally organized to destroy New Zealand’s ‘culture of misogyny’

A protest march sparked by allegations of sexual assault in Hollywood aims to tackle misogyny in New Zealand culture.

WeToo: Reclaim the Night was hosted by the Young Asian Feminists Aotearoa group and will feature speakers and artists including Green MP Golriz Ghahraman.

Participants will walk down Queen Street in Auckland from 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Organizer Nishhza Thiruselvam said the group organized the event in response to the hashtag #MeToo, which went viral following allegations of sexual misconduct against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and urged people to fight back. sexual assault and harassment.

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“Social media brought the issue of sexual violence into the mainstream and gave space for a conversation to begin.”

Thiruselam said victims of sexual harassment and violence often remained silent because they felt shame about what had happened.

“But shame shouldn’t be on them, we need to encourage victims to talk about what happened.”

She said New Zealand’s rugby culture contributed to toxic masculinity, where it was okay to behave badly.

“We often dismiss it as ‘boys will be boys’ but that’s not an acceptable justification.”

Thiruselam said the group wanted to highlight the fact that sexual violence disproportionately affects women and minorities.

“Maori women, children and homosexuals face appalling levels of sexual violence, but it is not being talked about. ”

Ghahraman said migrant women bring with them strong marks of feminism.

“We need to be genuinely involved in events that help change a culture of misogyny.”

Thiruselam was expecting around 80 people to attend the march, which will start in Britomart at 7 p.m. and end at Aotea Square in the CBD.