Despite the risks and uncertainty posed by Storm Claudia, nearly 100 people marched from Endcliffe Park to Devonshire Green on Saturday, November 15th, to participate in ‘Reclaim the Night.’ After the march, attendees gathered at Devonshire Green to listen to speeches from members of the Sheffield Women’s Collective, the National Education Union, and the University of Sheffield, along with a variety of guest speakers.
The first ‘Reclaim the Night’ march took place in Leeds in 1977, following the first murders committed by the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe. These annual marches were soon adopted in Sheffield to help women regain their confidence in being outside at night, reclaiming their individuality and power while marching alongside other women from similar backgrounds.
Every year, the marches continue with a similar purpose: to protest sexual violence, gendered violence, street harassment and victim blaming. Sheffield Women’s Collective, the organisers of this year’s march, told Forge Press:
“Safety at night is not a privilege, it is a right.”
Founded in February by three women – Jade, Amber and Skye – the Sheffield Women’s Collective has become an inclusive and empowering space for women-identifying communities across Sheffield. Their work is centred around welcoming marginalised people into their spaces, with specific ethnic diversity and sex worker support groups running under their banner.
During the march, signs with messages such as “Somebody, not some body”, “Real men reject patriarchy”, and “End violence against women” were held among the crowd.
Speeches began by paying tribute to the 13 women murdered by the Yorkshire Ripper from 1975-89, the time period ‘Reclaim the Night’ gained traction. Speaks reminded the crowd of the central aim of the movement: to ask why women should fear for their safety at night.
Further speeches covered a range of topics, from sexual violence to workplace harassment, until just after 10 pm.
Emily Heather, from the National Education Union, spoke about the influence of violent content on misogynistic attitudes amongst young boys in schools. In reference to the government’s reaction to the acclaimed TV show Adolescence, she stated:
“It didn’t take a Netflix TV series for teachers to see that misogyny is rising.”
Chloe Wallace, who spoke on workplace sexual harassment, stressed the importance of changing attitudes within the workplace to make sure that victims of sexual harassment and violence are believed and supported:
“Sexual violence is not just a woman’s issue, it’s a human issue”.
Additional speakers read poems, retold personal experiences of gender-based violence or discrimination, and spoke against the use of violence towards women to justify anti-immigration stances.
Whilst the demonstration itself was peaceful, multiple members of the public were seen attempting to disrupt the march and speeches. Reports of men shouting over speeches, approaching individuals in the crowd, and exhibiting threatening behaviour were prominent on the evening. Stewards and security staff prevented any serious conflict from arising.
Those interested in joining Sheffield Women’s Collective can follow them on Instagram at @sheffieldwomenscollective and join their WhatsApp channel for updates on future events and marches.
