Baptists march against gender-based violence
HUNDREDS of Baptists from all over the country converged in Montego Bay Thursday to protest against gender-based and other forms of violence.
Decked mainly in black, the demonstrators marched from the Calvary Baptist Church to the historic Sam Sharpe Square protesting against the increasing acts of violence, carrying placards, some of which read: ‘No Means No’, ‘Enough is Enough’, ‘Stop the Violence’, and ‘Tell What You Know’.
In Sam Shape Square the protesters held a brief rally to reinforce messages of solidarity, empowerment and hope for victims, and challenged abusers to stop and recalibrate.
Later in the evening a town hall discussion on gender-based violence was convened at the Calvary Baptist Church with panellists Carla Moore, Dr Patrick Prendergast and Novelette Grant. Moderated by Marlene Stephenson Dalley, the conversation explored some of the intricacies of gender-based violence and proposed actions that individuals can take to combat this scourge.
Proposed steps included education and sensitisation, advocacy and reconfiguring a narrative that would communicate positive models of socialisation for males and females. There was also a strong sentiment that, on this journey, each person must become personally involved in the implementation of solutions and initiatives within the spaces in which they operate.
The Jamaica Baptist Union’s General Assembly is being held February 20-24, 2019 in Montego Bay under the theme ‘Being God’s People in God’s World: Living in Partnership’.
