Women march to Reclaim the Night

IT WAS DECLARED A SUCCESS

MORE than 100 women braved freezing temperatures to take part in a protest march in Derby city centre.

Reclaim The Night took place in the city for the first time with women taking to the streets calling for action over violence against women.

They marched into Derby city centre on Saturday with banners calling for authorities to do more to make the streets safer. Some also created chalk messages on the pavements at The Spot to showcase their cause.

Organisers said the event was a success but said women taking part were subjected to “sexist jeers” during the march.

Vanessa Boon, organiser of Reclaim The Night Derby, said: “We sang, chanted, marched, chalked on the paved areas at The Spot and outside the Council House as the Suffragettes chalked for the votes for women campaign.

“Despite the cold and painful reasons, we marched. It was an uplifting and empowering experience with many women saying how great and rare it was to roam the city’s park and street spaces after dark free from fear.

“It was brave for us to gather in a dark park and march the city streets in the dark. As usual, and even when we were in a large crowd, there were men who made glib remarks and sexist jeers at us as we walked. But we raised our voices for collective liberation, we carried pictures and tributes to murdered women including Gracie

Spinks, Terri Harris and the children taken with her, Helen Alemy (Hancock), Sabine Nessa, Nicole Smallman, Bibaa Henry, Ava White and many more.”

The march came days after Derby councillors unanimously passed a motion to do more on the issue of violence against women. One of the action points was to work on a citywide awareness campaign which could involve a number of schools about the issues women face.

Last week it was reported how Derbyshire police officers had been given new orders to help make women feel safer on the street. The range of measures include proving their identity via speaking with the Derbyshire police control room when engaging with women in a public place while on duty. Officers must also use body-worn video cameras, when available, during interactions and seek assistance from colleagues before making a direct approach to a lone woman.

Despite the cold and painful reasons, we marched. It was an uplifting and empowering experience.

Vanessa Boon

BUT MARRED BY ‘SEXIST JEERS’