Taken from http://www.easf.org.uk/report.php?id=426
Unfortunately I missed this due to a family gathering, but I think its also important that men and TBH everyone who supports the right to late night fun (including relatively innocent pastimes such as clubbing) support things like this as well..
There is a lot of prejudice still against any form of late-night social activity in England – and sadly recent incidents in this town have played right into the hand of the moralists and nanny state leaders; now we must show that we the people are capable of respecting one another whatever time it is and whatever we choose to do –
if we don’t the state will just limit more of our freedoms under the guise of “protecting the vulnerable”..
Hundreds show solidarity at Reclaim the Night posted on Sat 30th December, 2006 by EASF
A demonstration and march under the banner of Reclaim The Night saw 250 people from around the country march from the steps of Ipswich town hall to the centre of the red light district through a blisteringly cold night.
Candles were lit at the Corn Hill steps and the event opened with a speech from Teresa Mackay, of Ipswich TUC, reiterating the aims of the march which were to remember the five women who were recently murdered and to highlight the levels of violence towards women in the UK today, with one in nine being severely beaten every year and two women killed each week by abusive partners or ex-partners.
Both she and the second speaker Sarah from the Collective of Prostitutes demanded an end to stigmatisation and persecution of prostitutes in the UK and for priorities to shift towards care and support rather than criminalisation. The march rejected the idea that women should be told not to walk alone at night, as it ‘stigmatises those who are attacked as somehow responsible and makes women who are out alone more of a target’ In a statement, the organisers went on to say ‘we believe safety must come from the community banding together and looking out for each other’.
After the speeches, the march walked down Westgate Street, St Matthew’s Street, Civic Drive and up Handford road before arriving at the recreation ground near Portman Road. A minute’s silence was held on the grass before marchers, many of whom held candles for the dead, made their way back to the corn hill.
Although it wasn’t organised by any group, the march saw support from local organisations including the Ipswich and district TUC, Ipswich Anarchists, the Green Party, the Socialist Party and from more far-flung groups such as the Collective of Prostitutes and Birmingham feminists. Individuals travelled in from Cambridge, Norwich, London and Manchester.
