This Monday the community gathered for Stirling’s second annual ‘Reclaim the Night’ march since 2018, advocating for women’s and marginalised genders’ right to walk the streets safely, as well as standing up in solidarity against gender-based violence.
Brig spoke to Helen Scott, Deputy Principle (Education) at the University of Stirling. She said:
“It’s really to show support for the cause. I think all women, all young girls, unfortunately we’ve all been experiencing these things ever since we were children. Things are sometimes getting better, but still all these issues remain. So, it’s really important that we stand together and keep showing up for things like this…”
Reclaim the Night is part of a global movement which started in Leeds in 1977 as a response to women and marginalised groups being warned to avoid the streets at night for their own safety.
The march is a way of expressing support and solidarity in the threat of gender-based violence, as well as remembering those we have lost.
This year Stirling held its second annual march since 2018, starting at the castle and continuing across the Old Stirling Bridge to reach the destination at Stirling County Rugby Football Club.
As folk gathered at the castle esplanade, ready to show their support, Brig spoke to students and other members of the crowd.
Joanna Morrow, Deputy Secretary and Executive Director of Student, Academic and Corporate Services, said: “I’m pleased to be here tonight. Just to support the whole community. It’s great to see so many people join us today, this important evening, to reclaim the night!”
Several students, societies and sports club members were in the crowd showing their support.
University of Stirling Student Bailey, 21, told Brig: “Well I’m here today to support many of my friends who show up to this march because reclaim the night means a lot to them. I think as someone who does have a lot of female friends, it’s important for a lot of men also to come up here and support as well.”
As the march set off the people of Stirling made a clear statement that Reclaim the Night is here to stay.
A organiser with a megaphone, initiated chants such as:
“What do we want?”
“Safe Streets!”
“When do we want them?”
“Now!”
Once having reached the Stirling County RFC, people gathered for the vigil with small electronic tea-lights to have a minute of silence remembering those lost as victims to gender-based violence.
Once inside, several different members of the community held speeches describing what we can and must do in response the serious issue which everyone had gathered for.
Sports President, Harry Sawdon, held a speech encouraging his ‘lads’ in the university sport community to stand up against misogyny of any kind.
He later told Brig:
“I’m proud of the sports clubs that have attended. I’m glad that they’ve came and that they’ve shown support and understand that there is an issue that we face here. I would love to see even more next year. I’d love to see teams.
“…So, overall feelings of pride and almost taken aback a bit by how powerful it is when people come together. You can make people feel heard. You can start change. But next year I’d love it if we saw even more sports clubs, even more societies and even more students and even just the community at Stirling.”
Others spoke, including a representative of Rape Crisis, who read aloud a solemn letter from one rape survivor to another.
Another student, Prarthana (Pat), 23, interviewed by Brig said:
“As a person who has experienced violence from a man a long time back, this is just a way of me showing solidarity for all my brothers and sisters who have also experienced the same.
“…Being together and united in purpose and just knowing that there is someone who has been in the same boat as you are – it just gives you a kind of strength which you can’t really get from any sort of book or a lecture. So yeah, I’m here for all the brothers and sisters who need me, and I’m here for them.”
It appears that Stirling’s community is set on having Reclaim the Night be an annual reminder that no violence is acceptable, and people of all marginalised genders have a right to walk the streets of their beloved city without fear.
Featured Image Credit: Martha Steventon