Thousands of students took to the streets of Manchester on the 22nd February to march against sexual violence and street harassment against women.
The march follows a sudden increase in attacks in student area, Fallowfield since September 2017.
3500 women marched in 2016, butthe numbers have declined since then with 2500 students marching in 2017 and approximately 1500 marching this year. Other figures have been quoted, up to 2700, but no official count was made on the night.
Caithlin, a student at the University who lives in Rusholme, just off the Curry Mile, said: “I do not feel safe on the streets of Manchester. I hate walking home on my own and have to carry a rape alarm every where I go.”
Patsy, a student who also attended the event, added: “I’m here to show solidarity with my sisters and it’s really important to promote and raise awareness for these issues that women have to face everyday.
“Last year, whilst we were on the march we had people throwing things at us and shouting hurtful comments, so we have to keep showing that we’re not afraid, even though we shouldn’t have to.”
‘Reclaim the Night’, led by student and non-student representatives featured a Muslim, ‘pro-choice’, youth and families and a LGBT block, as well as the women-only section in which any woman could participate.
Sara Heddi, the Women’s Officer at the Students’ Union, spoke to The Mancunion prior to the event about the blocs featured this year: “The Muslim women bloc is a fantastic addition to ‘Reclaim the Night’ and one that isn’t new. We had one last year that was well attended by multiple students! Its blocs like this that really embody of ‘Reclaim the Night’ and how intersectional it is.
“I am really happy to see other blocs this year as well such as the ‘Pro Choice Bloc’ and the Body Positive Bloc!”
Speaking to three-girls at the event, Faridat, Jessica and Lucy, about the different blocs, they said: “It’s nice to hear that women can identify to these different sections, although we should be able to walk together in solidarity without there being a divide. We’re united and we’re supposed to be together so we’ve chosen to stand in the women’s bloc.”
Speaking to the organiser of the Muslim Bloc this year, Hana Jafar stated at the event that “the University does have services to support young women, and The Union has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment.
“I found that in the past, events organised by the Women’s Officer focusing on emotional abuse have been a step in the right direction, but it can’t end there, and it is not enough.
“Women are still being attacked, assaulted, and feeling vulnerable and helpless on campus. A recent policy to have a sexual assault advice page on the Students’ Union website was passed at Union Senate with 100 per cent of votes, and I think steps like these are small but crucial to preventing assault and making support more accessible for women.
“‘Reclaim the Night’ won’t make streets safer overnight, but it will remind women that they are not alone in their struggles, nor in their fight for a safer world for women and girls.
“This is my favourite night of the year because women of every cultural, ethnic, and religious background rally together to take a stand, and there is nothing more powerful than hundreds of voices chanting, singing and making their voices heard. This is one night where women literally take over the streets of Manchester, and I find that incredibly liberating and empowering.
“I hope for a day when we no longer have to rally in the streets to demand what is rightfully ours – safer streets, safer campuses, and safer workplaces.”
The Pro-Choice Bloc released a statement on their Facebook page proclaiming that, “[They] believe that it is a woman’s right to access abortion that is free, safe, legal and without harassment and intimidation. Every year thousands of woman around the world die as a result of not being able to access safe, legal abortion.
“In the UK, women in Northern Ireland still do not have the right to access legal abortion, forcing them to travel to England. However we have also seen in recent years, inspiring struggles for greater access to abortion.
“It is important that women join us at ‘Reclaim the Night’ to say that in Manchester it’s our bodies, our lives and our right to decide!”
‘Reclaim the Night’ has become a safe-space for women to talk about and share their experiences of why they have attended the night. Many have spoken out about how they feel more vulnerable later at night after hearing stories of women being followed home or groped after nights-out.
A retired sex-worker spoke to The Mancunion about her frustrations. Using the pseudonym ‘Freya’, she said: “I want rights, not rescue because I do not think the police does enough to protect sex-workers.
“The police are a lot of our clientele and tend to just pull our drivers over and check their licenses and make fun of us.
“This results in women who have been abused in sex-work not being able to come forward, making any harm done their fault and I don’t think that’s right.
“I want to see sex-work legalised so we can pay tax and claim back what we deserve. Protests like this help bring together awareness, but I also think that it’s nice to meet people who understand your situation and support you. This event is just as much for me as it is for everybody else.”
When asked what she would say to those police officers who allegedly make fun of them on the streets, she simply replied, “remember who f*cks the law.”
The march, held in the student populated areas of Manchester, intended to make women feel safer on the streets on their own and to increase awareness that the issue is there. Those that attended claimed that women should not have to feel like they need a man present when walking late at night to feel safe and should be able to live in a community where they are not endangered to sexual harassment, violence and victim blaming.
The Students’ Union also sold T-shirts prior to and at the event to raise money for sexual and domestic violence organisations within the local community, which are still available to buy from the Students’ Union website.
GMP were contacted for comment but did not reply.
