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

The crowd estimated in the thousands argued the charter would help end religious oppression and ensure equality between men and women.

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Named after Janette Bertrand, an 88-year-old former journalist and actress, the Janettes aim to promote equality between the sexes, asserting that the charter of values promotes such equality.

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

Lise Rousseu, one of the protesters, says the charter will serve as a model not just for Quebec society, but for the world as a whole.

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

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

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

A protest opposing the plan is scheduled for Sunday in Montreal.

With files from the Montreal Gazette