We gathered in Trafagar Square
and waited patiently.
Our escorts waited patiently too.
Some very popular UK bloggers unfurl their banner.
We wait…
…and the police wait…
…and we continue to wait.
Getting ready to go
And we’re off!
Women
more women
and yet more women marching
Tottenham Court Road as it’s rarely seen on a Saturday night as traffic is made to stop for marching women exercising our right to free speech.
Men spill out of a pub and try to make more noise than we are. Fools.
See the fearless feminist confronting them with her camera though?
They get a talking to from a police officer
Keeping our way clear
As we march.
With huge thanks to Finn MacKay and the LFN for all their hard work.
I had a brilliant time. Saw some old friends and met old blogging friends for the first time. Wonderful women, all.
Can’t wait for RTN 07 now.
27 responses so far ↓
Liz // November 26, 2006 at 3:35 pm |
Wow..I’m still reeling..it was absolutely fantastic. I marched with the East Midlands Feminists as I got to know someone off list in ReSisters. We all shouted that chant when we went past that “gentleman’s” club – and I was sure I could hear your whistle!
My mum interpreted the speeches for me (lipreading and sign-language) at the rally. I felt sure I may have seen you at some point but never mind – there’s always next year! And I said hi to Laura for the first time which was fantastic.
I just feel extremely empowered and euphoric to be part of something so amazing.
Bring on RTN 2007!
witchywoo // November 26, 2006 at 3:55 pm |
Wasn’t it great?
I have a pic with the EMFEMS banner in – want me to put it up?
stormcloud // November 26, 2006 at 6:56 pm |
Some excellent photos Witchy. Well done!
Liz // November 26, 2006 at 7:49 pm |
Yes, that would be good – I bet Kimberley would like the picture up!
It was great
Mswoman // November 26, 2006 at 9:06 pm |
It was a great evening. It was fantastic the amount of support we got from passersby – with the notable exception of the men outside the pub! Looking forward to next year’s already- let’s hope it’s even bigger.
witchywoo // November 26, 2006 at 9:13 pm |
‘Tis done Liz – 7th pic down
Cheers Stormy. It was totally fab to meet you after all this time!
greengurll // November 26, 2006 at 10:35 pm |
Thanks for the invite to meet up. Unfortunatly I didnt check my blog or email until that evening when I got home.
I had an absolutly amazing time though, I wasnt expecting it to be so big. There was such a fantastic vibe and it really touched me deep inside. How great to see so many women coing together to shout about things that really matter. And all the support from passers-by was amazing too, except for all the wankers outside the pub, what a bunch of freaks, still they just proved exactly what the problem is. Anyway hope you had a good one.
Greengurll.
stormcloud // November 27, 2006 at 12:21 am |
It was lovely to meet you all
Had a sore throat today though… (think it’s easier just to scream in blogland, where I can do it in CAPS!)
Z // November 27, 2006 at 3:52 am |
That’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. I wish so much I could be there next year.
Take care,
Z
Pippa // November 27, 2006 at 11:38 am |
Fantastic. I will be there next year. I have a phobia about trains and planes, so things get a bit difficult travel wise, but I will make it next year…
Reclaim the Night! « Laurelin in the Rain // November 27, 2006 at 12:42 pm |
[...] Witchy-woo has the full report on London’s RTN 06. Suffice it to say, it was brilliant! [...]
fannyblood // November 27, 2006 at 1:51 pm |
There’s been a few comments in the LFN forum this morning about those men who were shouting at us and Catherine Whitehouse suggested this:
“Maybe publishing close up pictures of the jeering men in a tabloid with the caption ‘these men aren’t against rape’ would be fun?
Fantastic idea!!!
F x
Laura // November 27, 2006 at 3:35 pm |
It was fabulous yay!!! I will write a mini report soon.
Liz it was ace to meet you, sorry I didn’t chat for long, had to leave early and was a bit drunk = decreased social skills!
I officially love Finn Mackay. Hoorah for her for not shying away from linking violence against women with pornstitution in her speech.
witchywoo // November 27, 2006 at 5:20 pm |
Finn rocks!
spotted elephant // November 27, 2006 at 7:59 pm |
Thanks for posting all these pictures, witchy! What a great night.
charliegrrl // November 28, 2006 at 5:23 pm |
Hey Witchy, great to meet you.
I had a brilliant time at RTN.
Those men who jeered at us enraged me
‘Get your Tits Out!’ It proved the sort of shit us women have to put up with. I stood infront of them chanting
‘2-4-6-8
DEAD MEN DON’T RAPE!’
The police looked taken aback by the men jeering at us- I don’t think they were expecting it.
Great Pics x
whiztle // November 28, 2006 at 8:58 pm |
Great pics Witchy and well put together with captions ‘n all. Great to see you again, even though it was just briefly.
sparklematrix // November 28, 2006 at 11:17 pm |
YAY Witchy fecking great! I’m pleased you got the picture of the jeering knob-heads.
Lovely to meet everyone
x
Kit // November 29, 2006 at 12:08 am |
“Dead men don’t rape”?
Is this the new strategy, then? I can’t say I like it; it basically means that all men are rapists and deserve to die.
Which is like saying that all white people are all KKK or BNP members and thus also deserve to die. Because, after all, dead whiteys don’t go lynching.
Not to say that those blokes shouting “Get your tits out!” didn’t deserve a good kicking. They do. But don’t tar all men with that same brush because it’s utter bollocks, and makes you out to be totally and utterly insane.
witchywoo // November 29, 2006 at 12:39 am |
Strategy? No, I don’t think so.
It’s just that when faced with a hostile mob of drunken men displaying their contempt for women’s humanity it can feel quite good to be able to yell something quite shocking back at them instead of bowing one’s head, pulling one’s coat around and scurrying off in fear feeling like a piece of shit.
‘A good kicking’ might well be the response of some men but most feminists are opposed to violence as a method of asserting our right to live our lives free from sexual violence. Besides, when there’s just one of you and a whole gang of them, it’s very unlikely to be hugely effective.
No-one here is tarring all men with the same brush. I think that’s something of an over reaction, if you don’t mind me saying. Look at the derision on the faces of those men in the picture and think about how it must feel to be their sexual target and how it must feel to have to deal with that kind of shit every day. It’s oppressive. It’s designed to be. That’s the everyday reality for us.
Sexual violence is a very real threat for the vast majority of women – whether on the street, at home, at work – anywhere. We were protesting about it – calling for an end to rape – and those men tried to silence us on the one night when we had a collective voice.
Have you read Charliegrrl’s blog about what happened at the rally afterwards? More of the same, I’m afraid. And you think we’re insane?
Kit // November 29, 2006 at 1:11 am |
I don’t actually think we should hunt down those men and do physical harm to them – it was a turn of phase if anything – blame my upbringing. They’re a symptom of the problem, but I do think that saying “Dead men don’t rape” is also a problem too, because like I say, it’s a massive generalisation and it doesn’t help.
Also, if you’re going to pick me up on using violence, then you should also pick up on Charliegrrl’s chants as well.
Which was the specific problem. Not that you all picked up on the jeers and told them where to go, which was the right thing to do, but you have to be careful you don’t fall into the same trap they did.
In solidarity,
Kit
Kim // November 29, 2006 at 6:11 pm |
You know why I love these pics?
Because there are all kinds of people here demonstrating that even gender doesn’t matter when a goal is shared.
Thanks for getting out there for us, Witchy.
sparklematrix // November 30, 2006 at 2:32 am |
Witchy can I swip these pictures for herstory?
sparklematrix // November 30, 2006 at 2:33 am |
just stick an e on the swipe like!
witchywoo // November 30, 2006 at 10:30 am |
Course you can Sparks – and anyone else, just help yourself
soopermouse // December 6, 2006 at 12:15 am |
ok, I know I have been out of the loop- east Midlands Feminists? where? Link me please!
and congratulations on an amazing job!
Mary Sunshine // July 1, 2008 at 5:13 pm |
Wow, just Wow!
That kind of thing could never happen in North America. Women are in total disarray.