Hundreds of women demonstrate in support of Quebec values charter

MONTREAL – Hundreds of women marched through the streets of Montreal Saturday with a message: Quebec’s proposed charter of values would help protect their rights.

The demonstrators argue the charter would help end religious oppression and ensure equality between men and women.

The protest was led by several high-profile Quebec women, including actress Janette Bertrand, who wrote an open letter in support of the charter.

The Parti Quebecois government wants to ban public employees from wearing obvious religious symbols, including the Muslim headscarf, in the workplace.

Protests for and against the charter have been held regularly since the plan was announced in early in September.

The PQ has a minority and would require opposition support to make the charter law.