MANILA, Philippines ? Journalists will take the lead in an indignation march on Wednesday to mark International Day Against Impunity and to demand justice for the 57 victims of the Nov. 23 massacre in Maguindanao province, 30 of them media practitioners.
Organized by the November 23 Movement, a coalition of media organizations, and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the rally will start at 10 a.m. in front of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) campus along España Avenue in Manila, and proceed to the Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) Bridge.
Dubbed the ?Black Day? of mourning and indignation, the media-led rally?s main program will be held on the historic bridge from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Participants are urged to wear black clothes and black arm bands. Black ribbons will be tied on posts and trees.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has granted rally participants a permit and expressed support for the activity. He also offered to provide security escorts for the marchers.
The marchers will carry three mock coffins representing the issues or causes attacked in the Ampatuan massacre?media, rule of law and accountability.
The rally organizers are calling on artists, religious, youth, farmers, indigenous peoples, political activists, writers, teachers, urban poor, and other concerned citizens to join them.