Womens March London

When

6pm, Saturday 22nd November 2008

Where

Whitehall Place

Join up with thousands of women of all ages and ethnicities as they Reclaim the Night at a march to end violence against women. The womens march London event at Whitehall Place will see women from all over the country unite for a common cause on a protest walk throughout the streets of London.

Reclaim the Night 2008
Reclaim the Night, a womens march London event, is a protest walk throughout central London in hopes that more attention will be paid to issues of rape, assault and domestic violence. Women who are afraid to walk London’s streets at night can join together and feel safe walking through the city after dark.

Why you should march
Women all over London should join in the march in order to raise awareness about the violence against women that goes on in London, the UK and the rest of the world. Even today, Britain’s conviction rate for rape and sexual assault is frighteningly low, and now more than ever London women need to be alert about their rights and their safety.

Reclaim the Night history
This year’s protest coincides with the International Day to End Violence Against Women, but Reclaim the Night has a long history. The march originally started in Scotland in the 1970s before moving to Yorkshire, where prostitues were being murdered. Police seemed to pay little attention to the murders, but when young female students became the next victims, their response was to warn the women of Yorkshire not to go out at night and women’s rights and student groups took to the streets to protest.

Scary statistics
According to the British Crime Survey, there are approximately 47,000 rapes in Britain each year, and an estimated 300,000 women are sexually assaulted. A 2005 survey by More magazine found that 95 percent of women in the UK don’t feel safe on the streets at night, and 65 percent don’t even feel safe during the day. The womens march London protest hopes to bring an end to that fear, and raise awareness about the realities of rape and violence against women.

Mixed rally
After the womens only London march there will be a mixed rally and a Reclaim the Right to Party party that all sexes can attend at the Friends Meeting House,Euston Road. There’ll be speakers, bands and DJs, plus a licensed bar until late in the evening, as well as stalls where you can get more information about women’s rights, feminist groups and the organisations that are sponsoring the event.

After party
Head to the Reclaim the Night after party to celebrate the day's march and you will be treated to the sound of electro punk duo 2 Hot 2 Sweat, Zombina and the Skeletones, Dworkin, Ladyfest and the Unskinny Bop DJ Pam Savage. Held at the Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, the party starts at 10pm and entrance is £5.00.

The Reclaim the Night womens march London event starts at Trafalgar Square at 6pm on Saturday 22nd November 2008. For more information, visit the official website below.

Reclaim the Night Official Site