1. Women march against fear on Coventry’s streets
By Christabell Ndive
Women made a stand against fear on the streets by marching through Coventry city
centre on the night of Saturday 7th March 2015.
It was part of International Women’s Day.
The women-only “Reclaim The Night” event was a protest against the threat of violence
in public spaces at night.

2. Women gathered in Broadgate at 6pm in front of the Lady Godiva statue and listened to
speeches before marching through the city centre, including through underpasses.
As the women held up signs they chanted phrases such as: “We have the right to not be
scared at night”.
Thirty thousand women in Coventry are said to have been raped or sexually abused in
their lifetime. Another 2,600 are thought to be abused every year.
Campaigners say women are still blamed for being raped and sexually assaulted.
One demonstrator, a student named Roses, 20, said: “It is not okay to harass a woman
because of what she is wearing.
“We need to stop blaming women: there is a problem with the system.”
The marchers were defending the rights of all women, including gay and transgendered
women, and members of ethnic minority groups who suffer from racist violence.
The leader of Coventry City Council, Ann Lucas, told marchers: “These are our streets.
We will walk wearing whatever we want, whenever we want. We don’t want power – we
want respect.”

3. “This problem is not only in Coventry, but is a global problem. This event represents the
voice of women everywhere and all the challenges. It is something that women should
not have to fight for, but it is important to get the message across to everyone.”
The celebration was set to continue on Wednesday, 11 March 2015, with another rally
under the title, Revolutionary Women & the Fight Against Austerity Today.
It starts at 6pm in Far Gosford Street, Coventry, CV1 5ED.
Visit reclaimthenightcoventry.wordpress.com
Sub-edited by Natalie McFall/Simon Pipe