Demonstrating for Equal Rights on Public Transportation

Demonstrating for Equal Rights on Public Transportation

This morning, I attended a demonstration against sex-segregated public transportation in Jerusalem. The demonstration, which was held outside the Ministry of Transport, was covered by the press.

Here are some photographs that I took:

A bus ticket, created specifically for the demonstration. The top line reads: “Ticket for women. Seating in rear portion only.”

MK Nitzan Horowitz speaks to a journalist from Israel Television. (Note that the journalist is wearing a head covering.)

Two police officers hold a powwow on the road leading to the Ministry of Transport. Since we were fewer than fifty people, we did not require a permit in order to demonstrate. I got the impression that the police officers were not altogether pleased that we knew that bit of information.

As small as the demonstration was, it encompassed most walks of Israeli society. Many religious people object to sex-segregated public transportation on various grounds, including the fact that Jewish religious law does not demand it at all. According to city councilwoman Rachel Azaria, Haredi men and women object to the segregation as well, but cannot say so publicly for fear of reprisal.

The rest of my photos from this morning’s demonstration are here.

Past posts of mine about sex-segregated public transportation:

Rightful Place (August 2, 2004)

And the Bus Blues Roll On (August 5, 2004)

Modesty or Territoriality? (May 13, 2006)

Forced Segregation on Jerusalem’s Buses (May 3, 2009; includes links to photos and videos).