Bullying of female politicians called out at Calgary rally

Women from different political backgrounds gathered at Calgary's Olympic Plaza to raise concerns over the treatment of female politicians in Alberta.

Although Sandra Jansen was not at Thursday's protest, she recently dropped out of the race as leader of the province's Progressive Conservative party citing a series of online insults and smear campaigns.

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CitycouncillorDruhFarrell said it's been a sad week for women in politics.

"The amount ofmisogyny and it's blatant and it's raw and it's ugly and it's violent," she said."With Sandra this has been long term, it's been widespread and very severe."

Attacking policy is fair game, but harassment crosses a line,saidLeelaSharonAheer, theWildroseMLA forChestermere-Rockyview.

"You're tearing people down at their core and there'sabsolutelynothing to be gained by doing that."

Support across political parties

Women in politics needto show support for one another and for women thinking about entering politics, regardless of which party they support, Aheer said.

"I hope beyond hope that this incites women, that this empowers them because those of us that are there, we're going to hold hands with you whether you share my ideology or not."

The protest sends a message to allAlbertansthat bullying is never OK, saidKerry Cundal,vice president of Ask Her,a group that works to get women into politics.

"We didn't get the vote 100 years ago as women to become silent partners in democracy," she said.

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