The goal of the march was "to protect the structures which accommodate the women victims of violences, to promote the private bill tallies and to assert a Ministry of State to the equality women/men." Many other womens' rights groups [fr] came out in support. The 9eme Collectif des Sans Papiers [fr] was also marching to protest the immigration policies of Nicolas Sarkozy, Presidential candidate (and opponent to perhaps the first Madame President of France).

File under Paris is a small world, I ran into photographer Pierre-Herve Verant at the march (Pierre and I have shot together before), and in googling for more info on the event, I found the blog of Clementine Autain [fr], whom I photographed being interviewed at the event.

Two additional notes: The book this woman is holding is On m'a vole mon enfance by Diaryatou Bah. The term "manif" is for "manifestation" and it means a march, demonstration, or protest in French.

Check out previous protests on this site.