Tarnjit Parmar

Activists take to the streets of Downtown Vancouver for seventh annual Red Umbrella March

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Dozens of activists took to the streets of Downtown Vanouver this afternoon, for the seventh annual Red Umbrella March for sexwork solidarity.

Organizer Andrew Sorfleet explains the event, and why support for the movement continues to grow each year.

"On this day 35 days ago, the Alliance for the Safety of Prostitutes, organized a protest parade with noise makers and whistles," he said. "They went down Davie Street to protest the illegal injunction the city had filed to move the sex workers out of the West End."

Sorfleet says he's pleased with growing support for the movement.

"It's a red umbrella march, it's rain or shine. It was a great turn out very enthusiastic on the streets," Sorfleet adds. "We are showing everyone we have a lot of support in Canada. We have a lot of friends and family and we are out here showing our support for sex workers."

Activists re-enacted that march this afternoon, many carrying red umbrellas representing the Sex Worker Rights Movement.

The march ended with a screening of an imported 35mm print of the 1986 film 'Working Girls'.