International Women's Day Is Tomorrow

       . . . . We arrive in Madrid tomorrow morning. This morning we received this email --

We kindly inform you that on Wednesday the 8th of March, due to the International Women’s Day, will take place a demonstration from 7pm which will cause major traffic disruptions in Paseo del Prado, Plaza de Cibeles and the Gran Vía up to Plaza de España. Therefore, from 4pm onwards these traffic diversions will apply for accessing the hotel area. We will be pleased to help you organizing your transportations if needed.

We in the USA do forget that International Women's Day is a very large observance in many countries, even though we don't bother much with it here

Europe: Demonstrations and rallies marking International Women's Day planned in European cities March 8

Events

Women's rights activists in parts of Europe will hold rallies and demonstrations to mark International Women's Day on March 8. Organizers have confirmed demonstrations in the following cities:

Austria, Vienna: Yppenplatz from 17:00

Belgium, Brussels: Place de l'Albertine from 14:00

France, Paris: Palais de Justice from 13:00

Germany, Berlin: Invalidenpark, 13:00

Greece, Athens: Klafthmonos Square to Syntagma Square from 13:00

Italy, Bologna: Piazza XX Settembre, 17:00

Italy, Milan: Piazza Duca d'Aosta from 18:00Italy, Naples: Piazza del Gesu Nuovo from 16:00

Italy, Rome: Piazzale Ostiense to Largo Bernardino da Feltre from 17:00

Italy, Turin: Piazza XVIII Dicembre from 15:30

Portugal, Lisbon: Alameda Dom Afonso Henriques from 18:30

Spain, Barcelona: Placa Universitat 18:3

Spain, Madrid: Atocha to Plaza de Espana from 19:00

Turkey, Istanbul: Taksim Square from 19:30

Turkey, Izmir: Cultural Center from 18:30

Further protests will almost certainly occur in additional towns and cities throughout Europe on March 8; demonstrations could take the form of marches through city centers in many locations. Attendance will vary by location but will reach into the thousands at larger actions. In some locations, women's rights activists may also take part in short-term strike actions, possibly causing business and transport disruptions.

Additional police will likely deploy to all demonstrations. Large crowds and associated security measures could prompt localized disruptions, including possible road closures and movement restrictions. Most demonstrations are likely to pass off peacefully, though isolated clashes between police and protesters cannot be ruled out.

Hmm.  They didn't say from which direction the possible violence might start.  One thinks of the cops and the suffragette demos back in the last century ....  Some serious beatings and torture from the cops dealt out to the women, including prison.

A friend in Madrid tells us that particularly around our hotel things are going to be very fraught tomorrow due to these reasons as described in the Washington Post:

Spain gov’t parties vie for feminist flag before Women’s Day

BARCELONA, Spain — Spain’s government presented Tuesday a plan to mandate gender quotas in elected government bodies and companies’ executive boards, on the eve of International Women’s Day when thousands will take to the streets of Madrid and other cities for women’s rights.

But the buildup to the annual women’s march comes amid a political spat inside Spain’s ruling coalition over which of the two left-wing parties best represents the feminist cause in an election year where Spain’s Right will try to reclaim power.

The Socialist Party of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the anti-austerity United We Can are sparring over one of their government’s banner causes: a sexual violence law proposed by the latter party that, while increasing support and resources for victims, has inadvertently led to the reduction of sentences of over 700 offenders since taking effect in October. ....

In London --

Celebrate International Women’s Day 2023 with the best things to do, events and activities happening across London

In the US capital International Women's Day will be virtual:

Various activities scheduled for International Women's Day in New York: