Whoa!! Qu’est-ce qui arrive dans Parc-Extension?!
Tôt le vendredi matin passé, les gens du quartier de Parc-Extension (Montréal) ont vu des affiches mises par des féministes anti-racistes en bengali, en anglais, le français, le mandarin, le tamoul et l’ourdou, afin de dénoncer les comportements sexistes et harcèlement dans la rue, et pour construire des communautés respectueux pour toutes et tous. L’œuvre d’art a été mise abondamment partout dans les espaces au long de la rue dynamique de Jean-Talon.
Mise en contexte
Historiquement, un quartier ouvrier, Parc-Extension est une communauté diverse, où habitent principalement des d’immigrantEs d’origine sud-asiaqtique, amérique latine, haïtienne, et nord africaine. Bien qu’un quartier dynamique, comme n’importe quel autre, les femmes qui habitent dans/fréquentent Parc-Ex sont confrontées avec des interactions sexistes dans la rue, parc, métro… Les gens qui s’identifient comme femmes, de tous âges, de formes ou de taille, de diverse origines linguistiques/ethnies continuent à se trouver dans des situations d‘insécurité et indignité dans les espaces publics pendant la journée et la nuit
Whoa!! What is happening in Parc-Ex?!
Early last Friday morning, shop keepers, workers, residents and passers-by of Parc-Extension neighbourhood (in Montreal) woke up to fierce feminist posters with pointed messaging in Bangla, English, French, Mandarin, Tamil, and Urdu, by anti-racist feminists in order to denounce sexist behavior and street harassment, and to build safe, dignified and healthy communities for all. The artwork was abundantly plastered all over spaces along the busy and vibrant Jean Talon strip.
What is this all about?
Historically a working-class neighbourhood, Parc-Extension is currently home to a diverse immigrant community, composed in large part of South Asian, Latin@, Haitian, and North African migrants. Although a vibrant community, like any other area, Parc-Ex is not immune to sexist interactions on the street. People who identify as Womyn, of all ages, shapes/size, are from diverse linguistic/ethnic backgrounds continue to find themselves feeling unsafe in public spaces, whether it be because of how they dress, talk or navigate through public spaces…or just by virtue of their presence alone during the day or night.
Street harassment against people who are Gender non-conforming, Trans- and Cis-Womyn is widespread and is something that affects all communities. Although often difficult to identify, it is important to know that feeling unsafe should not be normal. Such harassment, and intimidation includes sexist/derogatory comments or whistling, verbal threats, staring, following, forcing a conversation when it is unwelcome, not accepting “no” to a given behavior as an answer.
For generations, people have resisted and organised against street and interpersonal violence. This art action is apart of the ongoing grassroots organising that people are apart of in order to end violence in Parc-Extension. State-violence such as poverty, racial profiling by the Montreal police (SPVM), as well as Canadian Border Service Agents (CBSA) detaining and deporting members of the community is wide-spread in P-Ex. In fighting against this brutality, we also recognise the importance of fighting against street-harassment in the ‘hood. A safe community means that all people feel they can walk the streets with dignity and without fear.
Si je souris, vous n’avez pas le droit de siffler à moi.
Si je me promène seule, vous n’avez pas le droit de me suivre.
Si je vous dis de s’en aller, vous devez m’écouter.
Vous n’avez pas le droit de me fixer le regarde n’importe ce que je porte/je ne porte pas.
C’est mon quartier aussi, et je vais y vivre en dignité!
If I smile at you, you have no right to whistle at me. If I am walking alone, you have no right to follow me. If I tell you to go away, you must listen. If I were to walk naked in the street, you would have no right to stare at me
I <3 PARC-EX!
