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Hundreds march for women's rights in Bristol

Image Credit: Sofia Lambis

By Sofia Lambis, News Investigations Editor

On Saturday 18 January, hundreds of individuals took to the streets of Bristol to protest for women’s rights. Demonstrations were held in 22 cities across the UK, organised by the group UK Women’s March.  

Taking place two days before Donald Trump was due to be inaugurated into the White House, the march protested against sexual assault, anti-abortion legislation and transphobia, as well as violence against women and girls in the UK and around the world. 

‘With Donald Trump set to return as US president in January 2025 and Nigel Farage picking up the anti-abortion mantle here in the UK, it’s time to make our voices heard,’ said UK Women’s March in a statement on social media. ‘We are marching because violence against women and girls in the UK has increased by 37% since 2018 and has now been declared a national emergency.’  

Image Credit: Sofia Lambis

Chants of ‘my body, my choice’ ‘silence is compliance’ and ‘no means no’ could be heard among the Bristol crowd. People of all ages marched alongside each other, with some having travelled over two hours to attend the march. 

Starting off at College Green at midday, the demonstrators marched through the city centre and eventually congregated at Castle Park. There were reports of some male hecklers and misogynistic language being used towards marchers in the city centre. 

Image Credit: Sofia Lambis

At Castle Park, volunteers invited attendees to stand in front of the crowd with a microphone to say a few words. Numerous women stood up to talk, with many saying they originally hadn’t planned on speaking but had felt encouraged by previous speakers. 

Many shared very personal experiences. Some talked about family members who had been raped or sexually assaulted, and the impact it had had on them. One person reported that ‘the police actually laughed at me and said it wouldn’t even go through court’ after they had been sexually assaulted in year 10. 

Image Credit: Sofia Lambis

Survivors of domestic violence and abuse stood up and told their stories, with crowd members becoming emotional as they listened to them. The importance of community and of being active with volunteering was frequently discussed. A speaker from the charity Kaleidoscopic UK urged that ‘it’s not just about looking at statistics, it’s about remembering the people behind those statistics.’ 

In their social media statement UK Women’s March added that ‘through united action, marching simultaneously in cities across the UK and in solidarity with our sisters abroad, we aim to raise awareness of the extensive and growing inequalities and diminishing rights faced by women globally. Our goal is to amplify the message that our voices and lives matter.’

If you have been affected by any form of sexual violence or abuse, specialist and confidential support is available 24/7. Call 0808 500 2222 or visit the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line to chat online or find out more.  

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