Group march to reclaim night

1:00pm Friday 1st March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Emma Harrison, Reporter covering Rose Hill, Littlemore and Iffley. Contact me on 01865 425430

Women on the march last October Women on the march last October

A GROUP which fights for women’s rights to walk the streets free from the fear of rape is encouraging people to listen as part of a new campaign.

Reclaim the Night supporters will march through the city next Friday to highlight the need for victims of sexual violence to be heard when they have the courage to speak out.

The annual event, which has been organised to coincide with International Women’s Day, is dubbed ‘Listen Up’ and runs from Cowley Road, East Oxford, to Oxford Town Hall, where there will be a celebration organised with Oxford International Women’s Festival.

Organisers say 111 rapes were reported in Oxfordshire last year but they believe many others went unrecorded.

Reclaim the Night member Clare Cochrane said: “When we started planning this we decided we wanted to encourage women to speak out – but quite often they do and aren’t listened to.

“We mean people in authority, teachers, police. But also, each of us as friends have a responsibility to listen – to listen to a person without judgment, without prejudice. When they trust they will be heard they will have the courage to speak up.”

There will be information about the campaign at a stall on Saturday in Cornmarket Street, from noon to 2pm, including a piece of street theatre on the theme of listening.

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The march, which expects to attract 200 people, aims to demonstrate that women have the right to feel safe on a night out.

Ms Cochrane said: “Violence against women is an ongoing epidemic. It is 2013. Our campaign is to raise awareness that this still goes on.

“Rape is serious and it is a real problem.”

She added: “If you are drunk and in a bikini, you should still be able to walk down the street safe from rape.”

The march begins at 6.30pm from the corner of Magdalen Road and Cowley Road.

From 7pm to 9.30pm, women and men are welcome to celebrate at Oxford Town Hall in St Aldate’s, with music from Oxford Young Women’s Music Project.

Women are also invited to get involved in the street theatre piece on Saturday.

Email rtn.oxford@gmail.com to find out more.

Comments (7)

2:53pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Lord Palmerstone says...

“If you are drunk and in a bikini, you should still be able to walk down the street safe from rape.” I understand Lord Rennard had done this down St Aldates every Saturday night since he quit the Chairmanship of the Lib Dems and has never even had an offer, so perhaps all the fuss is unnecessary.
Never mind Clare, you win the Silly Bulgar of the Week Prize.
“If you are drunk and in a bikini, you should still be able to walk down the street safe from rape.” I understand Lord Rennard had done this down St Aldates every Saturday night since he quit the Chairmanship of the Lib Dems and has never even had an offer, so perhaps all the fuss is unnecessary. Never mind Clare, you win the Silly Bulgar of the Week Prize. Lord Palmerstone

5:17pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Myron Blatz says...

Women in many Muslim countries can already do this - though may not necessarily have many other 'rights' for which women in non-Muslim countries have fought for and come to expect in the 21st century.
Women in many Muslim countries can already do this - though may not necessarily have many other 'rights' for which women in non-Muslim countries have fought for and come to expect in the 21st century. Myron Blatz

8:31am Sat 2 Mar 13

Lord Palmerstone says...

Myron has a good point. Clare if you're planning to down 3 bottles of Lambrini and stagger down Riyadh High Street in your itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini you should be aware that the outcome will be considerably more terminal than rape-a JCB bucket of rocks on your head in Chop Square Riyadh on a Friday after mosque is apparently very uncomfortable.
Myron has a good point. Clare if you're planning to down 3 bottles of Lambrini and stagger down Riyadh High Street in your itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini you should be aware that the outcome will be considerably more terminal than rape-a JCB bucket of rocks on your head in Chop Square Riyadh on a Friday after mosque is apparently very uncomfortable. Lord Palmerstone

10:20am Sat 2 Mar 13

King Joke says...

Oxfordshire Reclaim The Streets. Oxfordshire. Not Riyadh. The clue is in the name Mr Palmerstone. We could do something about Riyadh if virtually our only manufacturing export wasn't military tech to oppressive absolute monarchies, and if we cured our oil dependency problem. Where is your bicycle parked Palmy?
Oxfordshire Reclaim The Streets. Oxfordshire. Not Riyadh. The clue is in the name Mr Palmerstone. We could do something about Riyadh if virtually our only manufacturing export wasn't military tech to oppressive absolute monarchies, and if we cured our oil dependency problem. Where is your bicycle parked Palmy? King Joke

9:48am Sun 3 Mar 13

Lord Palmerstone says...

Mr Joke you are indeed missing the point though what you think we could "do" about Saudi is fascinating. Nuke them? But then you are simply a joke as you say. My point is that it's lovely to hear young people like Clair babble nonsense, but perhaps the right place is the playground and not the pages of that august journal, the Oxford Mail.
PS hope you don't park your bike where Billy Connolly used to park his, you naughty wee pesron.
Mr Joke you are indeed missing the point though what you think we could "do" about Saudi is fascinating. Nuke them? But then you are simply a joke as you say. My point is that it's lovely to hear young people like Clair babble nonsense, but perhaps the right place is the playground and not the pages of that august journal, the Oxford Mail. PS hope you don't park your bike where Billy Connolly used to park his, you naughty wee pesron. Lord Palmerstone

9:18am Mon 4 Mar 13

King Joke says...

If Clair is talking nonsense, what is acceptable about late night sexual assault? Instead of comparing ourselves to rock bottom standards of gender politics and giving ourselves a pat on the back, why not strive to be the best?

If you're that frustrated, go home and have a w**k - don't force yourself on a drunk young woman on the Cowley Road.
If Clair is talking nonsense, what is acceptable about late night sexual assault? Instead of comparing ourselves to rock bottom standards of gender politics and giving ourselves a pat on the back, why not strive to be the best? If you're that frustrated, go home and have a w**k - don't force yourself on a drunk young woman on the Cowley Road. King Joke

4:30pm Mon 4 Mar 13

King Joke says...

Ooh Kevin, get firked on the wrong side of bed this morning? Or maybe your Caps Lock key has been stuck down by substances unknown!

I'm not reporting your post, it's hilarious and I needed cheering up.

If I'm bigoted against totalitarian monarchies then I'm guilty as charged, but please point out any other bigoted remarks I have made, I can't remember any.

I can state though that I'm not slim, my name isn't James and I've never been a bus driver. You'll have to keep guessing (swishes cape mysteriously and disappears into the night).
Ooh Kevin, get firked on the wrong side of bed this morning? Or maybe your Caps Lock key has been stuck down by substances unknown! I'm not reporting your post, it's hilarious and I needed cheering up. If I'm bigoted against totalitarian monarchies then I'm guilty as charged, but please point out any other bigoted remarks I have made, I can't remember any. I can state though that I'm not slim, my name isn't James and I've never been a bus driver. You'll have to keep guessing (swishes cape mysteriously and disappears into the night). King Joke

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