Yacimovich: Protests for women are opportunity for Labor

Yacimovich calls feminism “one of the most just struggles in the history of humanity”; Party starts mass membership drive.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Labor chairwoman MK Shelly Yacimovich 311 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Labor chairwoman MK Shelly Yacimovich 311
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Labor intends to use the protest movement opposing discrimination against women to advance the party politically the same way Labor leader Shelly Yacimovich used the summer’s socioeconomic demonstrations to help her win the party chairmanship, Yacimovich said in a Jerusalem speech Monday night.
Speaking at an event kicking off a mass membership drive for the party, Yacimovich called feminism “one of the most just struggles in the history of humanity.” She said Labor would lead protests against discrimination.
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“Everything bad leads to an opportunity,” Yacimovich told a packed audience at venture capitalist Erel Margalit’s cultural laboratory.
“When there are protests calling for an end to prejudice against women, we will be there and we will take this opportunity with full force and use it to present an alternative.”
Yacimovich said the party selected Jerusalem to kick off the drive because of the city’s symbolism. She said she has seen new energy for Labor across the country and a genuine desire among young people to “enable the party that founded the country to be the party that fixes it.”
Labor Secretary-General Hilik Bar said the party would target new members with booths manned by volunteers in 22 cities across the country, via student leaders on post-secondary school campuses, with a website featuring clips uploaded by people explaining why they joined Labor, and by targeting 700,000 former Labor members with an aggressive campaign.
“We are purposely starting now when an election hasn’t been called, because we want people to know they aren’t only wanted during election time,” Bar said. “Labor doesn’t have much money, but we have a lot to offer in terms of ideology and our people who are a treasure.”