WE’RE STANDING WITH SURVIVORS
More than 3,000 attend rally to call for changes in judicial system
PROTESTERS took to the streets yesterday to support victims of rape and call on the Government to overhaul the court system after the Irish rugby stars’ trial.
Crowds chanted “wherever we are, wherever we go, yes means yes and no means no” as more than 3,000 people made their way from Dame Street in central Dublin to the Department Of Justice.
The march was led by Rape Crisis Centre chief Noeline Blackwell and Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger, who gave speeches along with rape victims who told their stories.
Ms Coppinger, who organised the event, quoted the film Black Panther saying she will “no longer accept” attitudes towards sexual crimes. She said: “For too long we have had to stand a culture where women are objectified, where women are demeaned, where women are disbelieved. “Today we no longer accept it. “Today we’re going to adopt a motto from Angela Davis, one of the Black Panthers – I’m no longer accepting the things I cannot change... I’m changing the things I cannot accept.”
Ms Blackwell added an overhaul needs to start in schools for young people to “have healthy relationships”.
She said: “We raise our children in schools to have an intellectual education, we are supposed to be giving them a physical education as well. Right now what’s most important for them is their emotional education is looked after. We must have consent classes.” The march was the second this week after more than 1,000 people protested outside the GPO. Ulster Rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding were found not guilty of rape on Wednesday after a jury of eight men and three women reached a unanimous verdict. Rallies also took place in Belfast, Cork and Galway where placards were left on the steps of the courthouse.