Strait Street Activism

October 2017 has also been the month of the worldwide #metoo campaign – a campaign highlighting the victims of sexual assault. Tonight, as hundreds of women kicked off the #occupyjustice campaign by setting up tents in Castille Square a civil rights stalwart from the 20th century decided to offer his own expert opinion on the matter.

The former leader of the Labour-linked Trade Union decided that the women outside Castille should actually have been in Strait Street and to make sure that his cultural reference was not missed he specified that this was Strait Street of the sixties – those swinging sixties when brothels and sexy nightlife were accessible in Malta too and not just in Soho and Dusseldorf. Not content with the “whores” jibe, Zarb continued to say that these were traitors of Malta and linked them to “a crew of Assassins who would do anything to get into Power”. The reference once again is clear. These women were part of a party that would do anything to get into power – including kill someone (assassini).

Wonderful. These are the sons of Labour. The sons of the government with the spanking track record of civil rights. This is Tony Zarb’s massive #metoo moment. Tony manages to verbally harass hundreds of women in one go. This is the kind of impunity that we speak about when we speak of the collapse of the rule of law. Others have dared where Tony dares today. Those others have rarely had to face serious repercussions for their actions. At most they are admonished only to find themselves promoted to positions of trust and satisfactory reimbursement before long.

There is a wonderful saying in Maltese. Tony might get it immediately since it deals with a subject close at heart. “Il-qaħba milli jkollha ttik“… and hell yeah, Tony’s giving us the best that he’s got.

Daphne’s sons sent bay leaves tonight to the women at Castille square. They represent the strength and courage that are needed in this battle. Harassment comes in many forms – some worse than others.

The women at Castille will surely not be bowed by such low comments.

We will not be bowed.

Having seen what went on, Ele sent me this bedtime story that I thought I would share with you:

One day Tony wakes up to find out that his countrywomen have decided to gather in Castille square. They want to spend some days there to call for justice after the brutal assassination of Daphne – also a countrywoman.

Tony however only sees a group of girls that want to spend the night out claiming nonsensical rights.

After all, they are just women.

Shouldn’t they be in Strait Street instead? he asks himself.

Tony reasons like this because he is a man (miskin). He ought to remember that he is also a public political figure.

But unfortunately, this means little nowadays in Malta.

#accountability #ruleoflaw #iamalreadywarm #metoo #iamnotemotional

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