My letter the Yorkshire Eve Post eventually printed
I wrote this letter on Sunday 4th December 2011 following attending the Reclaim the Night March in Leeds the evening before. It was printed on Thursday 8th Dec after I contacted them again to ask why it hadnt been published
An open letter to the people of Leeds
I don’t know what you all did this weekend, but Saturday evening rather than staying in watching TV, or going out for some drinks, I got the train from Calderdale to attend the annual Reclaim the Night march in Leeds. Although they started in Leeds 1977 in response to the Yorkshire Ripper and the suggestion that women should stay inside in they wish to be safe from violence and sexual assault in the City this was the third event I had attended.
As I met with over 100 other women all ready to `reclaim the streets,` raise awareness of the low rape conviction rate and issue of violence against women. I know lots of you were also out on the town and having a nice evening, some of you saw us and waved, or took a leaflet, or looked bemused at a big group of women all wrapped up protesting in Leeds at 7pm on a Saturday night. However, I’m wondering what it was that led a percentage of people we passed to react to us with such a degree of hostility, violence and aggression?
I’ve both worked and socialised in Leeds before, so why have I never encountered this level of abuse in the past? I don’t understand why a large group of men verbally threatened me two minutes into the march, and shouted in my face comments so sexualized and lewd that this paper wouldn’t print them even if I wrote them down. I wonder if they knew how shocked and saddened this made me feel?
As we passed with our banners and chants, did the people who acted in this manner not think we could easily have been their wives, grandmothers, sisters, partners, aunts or daughters, what was it about what we were doing that made some people act this way towards us?
I wonder if the group who stood in a line and swore, shouted and threw plastic bottles full of liquid at us near the dark arches would let me know what angered them so much about a group of women walking through the City protesting against violence against women? Why did this make you violent?
I would love to ask the angry middle aged man outside the Northern Monkey pub on the headrow if he knows how scary I found him when he was shouting and swearing at me? Did he know that I thought he was going to assault me or another member of the group? What made him follow screaming, demanding we come back so he could shout at us more when we tried to walk away?
To what extent where the threats, violence, aggression and hostility toned dowN because some of us had small children with us? I wonder if those reacting in this way noticed them? Was it because we were women? Was it because we were protesting? Was it because you believed women ARE actually safe from violence and threats on the street of Leeds, and that this event has no place in the City?
These aren’t rhetorical questions, I’ve been wondering the reasons all day and would like an answer if anyone can offer me one. What was it all about?
4 Responses
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That is very disturbing! Have you gotten any responses since the article was published?
Thanks for the post – It was indeed awful what happened, but has made me feel even more sure that events like this need to go on. No there has been no response at all in the Yorkshire Evening post following them eventually printing my letter. Very sad indeed
Why on earth did you think a march (of any sort) would be a good idea in Leeds on a Saturday night ? All your questions would still be valid if it was a group of men ‘protesting’ against Ken Bates ! The composition of the group was immaterial. I’m actually amazed the police let it take place.
You get ‘tanked up’ crowds waiting to go into and coming out of pubs and clubs and although this shouldn’t be the case of course, any group of people marching past are likely to get jeered at or worse.
I realise the whole point of the march was to stop the very attitudes you encountered so in a bizarre way, the actions of these idiots made that point for you and for all to see.
But marching in Leeds city centre on a Saturday night and expecting people to simply stand and watch or even applaud you…….won’t happen.
Try a different day and a different time.
I didn’t go on this years march but I have been on the last few in Leeds and to a couple in London. This is the first time I have heard of people being rude and insulting to the women on the march. It usually passes nicely and yes people do clap, cheer and shout encouragement as we pass. It has never before been a problem that we marched on a Saturday teatime and importantly it shouldn’t be a problem, we have the right to march through a city at any time and not be in fear of insults or attacks. WE shouldn’t have to change, we should be safe all the time. If others are incapable of letting a march of peace loving women go through their own town then it is them who have the problem and should be encouraged to get help. This is exactly why reclaim the night is needed more than ever!