Militant Mothers Day marks 50th anniversary of rail blockade victory

Carolyn Jerome remembersthe first time she locked arms with three other mothers and stared down an approaching train on the tracks that run north to south past the RaymurPlace housing project in East Vancouver.

It was 1970 and despite promises from Canadian National and Great Northern railways to not run trainswhen Raymur kidshad to cross the tracks to get to and from Admiral Seymour Elementary School, itwas still happening.

The mothers felt they had no other option.

"We tried phone calls, itdidn't work. Wetried writing letters, it didn't work. So then we escalated and decided to go and stop the trains,"said Jerome."We thought we were in our right to get out there and do something about it. And we did."

It took three blockades the third time they pitched a tent on the tracks for the Militant Mothers of Raymuras they became known, to win safe passagefor their children. In 1971 the City of Vancouver and the railways capitulated and finally delivered on a long promised pedestrian overpass.

Mother Carolyn Jerome confronts a CN Rail spokesman.

5 years ago

Duration 0:50

A group of East Vancouver women blockaded rail lines in 1971 in a successful effort to get an overpass built.

The green metal structure at Keefer Street still stands. It was renamed the Militant Mothers of Raymur Overpass in 2020.On Saturday, apandemic delayed 50th anniversary party and reunion Militant Mothers Day is being held at the west side of the overpass in recognition of theinspired actof civil disobedience.

'We won that overpass'

"I'm really happy to celebrate. For me, this was solidarity with a group of women and it's stayed with me all my life," said Jerome, 79."We won that event. We won that overpass."

Militant Mother Barbara Burnethad an early start to the anniversary, speaking to about 100 students about themothers' story Wednesday at Admiral Seymour.

"I asked how many of you use the overpass? Three quarters of the kids put their hands up. It was nice to see," laughed Burnet, 79.

"We were just damn determined that we were going to getsomething for the kids to be able to cross safely, you know?"

Unfortunately, anumber of the original 25 Militant Mothers of Raymurhave passed away while othersare not able to attend.But a group of original Raymur kids from 50 years ago,their children and grandchildrenare expected. Members of the public are alsowelcome at the free community event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT.

Militant Mothers of Raymur block a train in January 1971

5 years ago

Duration 0:38

A group of East Vancouver mothers battled governments and railways in 1971 to get an overpass built so their children could go safely to and from school.

Jerome said the lessons learned through the mothers' collective action are just asrelevant today.

"So many times women speak up and our voices are not recorded. And this is one reason we want to celebrate women raising their voices and being heard. I think that's something that other women can build on," she said.

"We must stand up, and we must be prepared to be militant to get what we want."