Women have the fundamental right to live free from fear. For one night a year, women have the right to walk free from fear. On Monday night we claimed this right. 

Over 300 people joined in the march, following a route up to Market Square, ending with candlelit talks in King’s Chapel. This was open to all self-defining women and children and joined by a solidarity demo outside Great St. Mary's for men and allies.

Appropriately, we marched by the light of a timely symbol of the progress we have made in making the streets safer for women. After over four years of requesting lighting from the Council and Reclaim the Night marches, there are temporary lights in Parker’s Piece for the next four weeks, and if enough feedback is positive, they will be here to stay, with perhaps more lighting around the rest of the park. These lights will make women feel that little bit safer when walking through Parkers Piece at night.

In today’s society we live in a culture of gendered violence that places responsibility on women. There are myths that tell women they are responsible for the violence men commit towards them because of what they wear, what they say, how they look and how they behave. But the Reclaim the Night march yesterday evening gave women the opportunity to take the power back and stand together. Walking side by side shouting out our anger at the injustice of the violence that is so prevalent in our society and across the globe, we were telling Cambridge that it is not good enough. Yet, even though this was one Reclaim the Night of hundreds happening across the world, there are many in Cambridge who would brand this kind of protest as ‘radical, man-hating feminists.’ Proving that this is not the case, the intimacy of the candlelit talks in King’s Chapel after the march relayed the shocking reality of the violence women are fighting against every day. As Angie of Women’s Aid Cambridge pointed out to us as we sat in bathed in candlelight listening intently, there is reason behind our angry voices. It is not only about sexual harassment and violence on the streets, women are abused and silenced behind closed doors by relatives and partners.

Two women will die a week from domestic violence. In fact, 52% of all women who are murdered, are murdered by their partners through domestic violence. Around the world, domestic violence is the main reason women die in childbirth. As I glanced around at the women gathered in the beautiful, glowing chapel, we were told 1 in 10 women will be in an abusive relationship. Every year in the Cambridge area alone, 15,000 16 – 60 year old women are victims of domestic violence. These statistics are not something to be laughed at. This is a frightening and serious issue which will directly or indirectly affect every woman in their lifetime.

As Julia Gray, a co-founder of London Hollaback, made clear, the abuse hurtled at girls on the streets begins at a very young age. When a girl is cat-called, whistled at, groped, sneered at and feels she can’t fight back in the moment, that girl loses her sense of agency, power and self-esteem. But this online organization allows our voices to be heard and to show young girls they are not alone in this battle. Bridget Minamore, a London based feminist poet, exemplified the power of speaking out, with an emotive performance relaying the truth about rape on the streets. Not an eye was dry, and as we left the chapel an overwhelming feeling of sadness followed by empowerment swept over me.

Susy Langsdale, CUSU Women’s Officer, certainly pulled off a march that had its highs and lows, and its loud moments mixed with the thoughtful. The intimate setting of King’s Chapel gave a space in which we could listen in solidarity and safety. Natalie Szarek, Women’s Officer of 2008 – 2012, emphasised the power of hundreds of women coming together to stand as “completely unapologetic for the kind of world we want to live in.” Reminding us of the brutal reasons the first Reclaim the Night in 1977 was started, it shows how little has changed since then, that violence against women on our streets and in our houses or our rooms, is happening now, and we have a reason to shout. 

Voices from the March

Josh

I think the march sends out an important, powerful message: rape is unacceptable, regardless of what women chose to wear, do or say. The recent government statistics that came out explaining that 800,000 women in the UK today have been raped or sexually assaulted were staggering. Our conviction rate is one of the lowest in Europe. It actually means that the conviction rate for rape cases was higher in the 1970s, when reclaim the night began, than it is now. I find that unbelievable.

Women are never to blame if they are the victims of rape or sexual violence. I think that a night where women own the streets and shout about being unafraid of sexual violence is an empowering and important thing.

As a man, showing your support in a respectful way is an important way of demonstrating that you refuse to accept the culture of sexual violence and that you support the event and what it stands for.

Nikita

It was so inspiring to be part of such a tender and intimate experience for so many women. I feel honoured to be part of the Cambridge Reclaim the Night movement.

Rosie Skan

An uplifting and emotional night. For me on of the most powerful moments on the march was when I looked around and saw our male friends and supporters who had joined us for the last stretch to the chapel. I think it was important for us to march alone for the majority of the route, but also found it incredibly uplifting to see people acknowledging sexual violence against women as an issue that everyone, regardless of their gender, should be working to combat.

Anonymous

Happy to see young women reclaiming the night again. We did this many years ago but it is sadly still so necessary.

Bridget Minamore (spoken word artist who performed in the chapel)

Absolutely wonderful time here. Cambridge has an incredible feminist leaning. So much love.

Isabel A. Young

Tonight was a reinforcement of everything I’d hoped of Cambridge women. So encouraging for a fresher! Beautiful event, beautiful women, unity in action.

Amelia Horgan

When women are taught to be scared to walk around alone, the symbolism of women marching through the Cambridge night was so powerful.

Anonymous

An awesome display of people power! Despite terrible weather so many brave people turned out to speak out against violence against women. My cousin died 10 years ago at the hands of a violent partner. My mother was date raped in the 1950s. Women have been silenced for too long. Please speak out and MAKE SOME NOISE!!!