Now in it's second year, Oakland's International Women's Day Festival will take place this Saturday - March 6, 2010 - in the Fruitvale Dimond District.  Organized by Bay Area women's activist Roke Noir, in collaboration with Code Pink, the event promises to be a day of celebration, recognition, and affirmation of Bay Area women.

By Nijla Mumin

When I was 18 years old, I was walking to the music store down the street from my college campus, when a man approached me. "Hey, what’s your name? Can I talk to you for a minute?" Not interested in his advance, I hurriedly responded "no, thank you," smiled, and kept walking. Less than 10 seconds later, I was bombarded by a swarm of insults. "You ugly bitch!!!" I had on red that day so he somehow found a way to integrate that into his insults. "You little red riding hood bitch!" He began to walk fast after me, and I quickened my pace, turning around to curse at him in the process. "Who the fuck do you think you are?," I yelled as I crossed the street. Passersby laughed and gawked at this situation. I felt fire inside my stomach as I entered the music store and finally got away from him.