Marching for Equality

Winds of change blow in Ondarribi as women demand their right for equal treatment during the celebration of the Alardes.

Here you have the note from Berria:

The Women march along San Pedro Street

Yesterday, the mixed Jaizkibel company succeeded in marching for the first time without any problems at all; they needed the protection of the Basque Autonomous Community police throughout, but hardly any whistles or insults were heard and there was no trouble

Asier Azpilikueta – HONDARRIBIA (Gipuzkoa)

In the end about a hundred women and men of the Jaizkibel company managed to march along San Pedro street yesterday; it was the first time since the start of the controversy over women’s participation. So the Jaizkibel company was delighted when it had completed the “Alarde” or military parade (*), despite the fact that it had needed the protection of the “Ertzaintza” [Police force of the BAC, the Basque Autonomous Community of Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa].

The Jaizkibel company tried to hold its parade as normally as possible. So, at around 09.00 hours at the start of the traditional parade [with only men as soldiers], the Jaizkibel company members went off to get Garoa Lekuona, the “kantinera” [a woman who used to provide the soldiers with drink in former times]. Txaro Arteaga, the chairperson of “Emakundea” (the BAC Institute for Women), and Mertxe Agundez, the acting ombudsperson of the BAC, were there to express their support and solidarity.

The Jaizkibel company had planned its march for 11.00 hours in the morning.

Permission for the march had been obtained from the Interior Department of the BAC, but could not set out at the appointed time, because the traditional parade had not yet finished. Once those who opposed women’s participation had left, the mixed company set off. It was greeted with an enthusiastic round of applause as well as shouts in support of the Jaizkibel company, the “kantinera” and equality. The Jaizkibel company was protected throughout by about sixty police officers. In fact a large number of them had been deployed in Hondarribia yesterday to prevent trouble.

The parade made its first stop next to the town’s walls. There the captain, Ixabel Alkain, stood on a chair and gave orders to her company. Then, to turn the parade into more of a demonstration, some of the women opened out a banner: “Emakumeak alardean. Por un alarde publico y no disciminatorio” (Women in the “Alarde”. In support of a public “alarde” without discrimination).

(*) The parade takes place every year to commemorate the town’s resistance against the French troops in the 17th century. Traditionally only men have been allowed to participate as soldiers.

Men and women are created equal.

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