London women march to Reclaim the Night

Women took to the streets of London on Saturday, November 22, for the 10th year to reclaim their right to walk the streets safely without fear of being attacked.

Approximately 500 women attended the Reclaim the Night march in London, according to the police, joining in the annual event created to mark the United Nations Day to End Violence Against Women.

Elaha Walizadeh, a KU student and the NUS London Women’s Officer, said she supports Reclaim the Night because she is passionate about challenging society’s norms and culture.

She said: “As an activist, I strongly believe in the power of protest. I participated because I think we still live in a patriarchal heteronormative society where street harassment and cat calling is considered normal.

“Sexual violence, rape and victim blaming have become norms too and we need to unite, mobilise and organise to challenge that culture.”

Walizadeh also pointed out it is time women reclaim the F word: “We talk about intersectionality and making the movement inclusive to trans women, black women and Muslim women but then there are still groups who simply don’t understand the meaning of intersectionality, we need to reclaim the F word rather than hijacking it.”

She continued: “I loved the unity at the march yesterday, I loved the diversity and most importantly the fact that our voices are louder than before and we are working towards a more equal society.”

KUSU’s Women’s Officer Allison Taylor said Reclaim the Night is important to show solidarity and to highlight how feminism is still crucial to society.

She said: “I believe it is important to show solidarity for this cause. It is such common thinking that events like Reclaim the Night, or even feminism for that matter are no longer worthwhile or necessary causes.

“The overall atmosphere was amazing, and it is so lovely to be reminded of just how many people there are that are fighting for the same causes you are, especially when the mainstream continually tries to make your fight feel trivial and irrelevant.”

At the end of the march at the Camden Centre, Euston Road, people such as Finn Mackay, the Founder of London RTN and a feminist campaigner, and Frances Scott of 50:50 Parliament gave talks on feminism and on why Reclaim the Night is still important 10 years on.

Frances Scott, who is campaigning for a 50:50 balance between men and women in Parliament, said the reason she participated in the march was because “if women want to be heard, they need to stand their ground”.

She said: “Men are good at talking the talk, but nothing happens. We need to claim our seats in Parliaments, not just our streets.”