by Ryan Hampton

February 14th 2010.

My somber heart goes out to our city on this day marked by flowers, greeting cards and warm fuzzies. Valentines day, Vancouver stops. and remembers and morns the lives lost. specifically those of women missing, abducted and murdered from the Downtown Eastside. Sisters, mothers, Aunties, daughters. Daughters of Vancouver. Many of which First Nations and Sex workers. lost.

We have all heard bout the Robert Pickton trials. I wish I could say justice has been served. but to see the faces of grief and mourning in downtown vancouver this sunday my heart just sinks. dozens of women stolen from our streets never to be seen again. This has been a very true reality for the past few decades here in Vancouver. Justice? Justice is far from the mouths of our city.

February 14th, 2010 the 18th annual Women’s Memorial march. for the first time we as youth with a mission made a commitment to stand alongside with the citizens of Vancouver as say Never again. thousands of people gathered. Lead by our First Nations elders and drummers we march. We marched the very streets of the Downtown Eastside and say, “We Remember.” and Never. Never will we allow our city undergo a silent genocide of our poor.

It was an honour, as a Christian to stand shoulder to shoulder with out city as we mourn. It truly was the most beautiful gathering of people I have ever been a part of.

The olympics has been a source of great controversy. We have seen Violent protests to the games but lets be frank I do not know what the rioters agenda is. The Violence and noise seems to be unvalidating their entire cause. Yet thousands gather. in peace and love march.

truly a more powerful message and statement to our nation!

Ryan

For more information about the march, please visit

http://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/

http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/rabble-staff/2010/02/memorial-march-draws-thousands-vancouver

http://video.aol.co.uk/video-detail/feb-14th-womens-memorial-march/454043802