Eight thousand* women marched through central London yesterday for Million Women Rise, to demand an end to the “continued daily, hourly, minute-by-minute individual and institutionalised male violence enacted against women worldwide”.
The third Million Women Rise was just as inspiring and amazing as ever, as chants of “women, join us!”, whistling, shouts and singing reverberated through the crowd of women from across the country and beyond. It’s also great to see The Independent ran some photos!
Only one issue cast a pall on the day – the MWR organisers’ reluctance to make their own stated policy public and clear on their website and flyers that trans women are welcome on the march and included in their signature chant, “One woman, One song, One body, One love“.
They say sit back – We say fight back!
They say silence – We say justice!
They say submit – We say don’t quit!
Power!
Power!
Power to the women
Cos the women got the power
Sister, can you hear it?
Getting stronger by the hour
Say it once, say it again
No excuse for violent men!
Say it once, say it loud
We are women, we are proud!
Cath Elliot with a Unison flag – Cath also spoke at the rally.
Women from the Butterfly Project.
The musician Sarah Kate Bennett
Sabrina Qureshi, co-ordinator of Million Women Rise, starting off the rally
Activist Michelle Daley
Patsy McKie, Mothers Against Violence
Judith Adorkorach, from CARE International, spoke about Northern Uganda.
More:
Charlotte Cooper’s photos on Flickr
* According to the march organisers – also, this is 3,000 more than last year!