A GROUP of women have walked through Oxford to ‘reclaim the night’ for women, just 24 hours after an night-time attack along the Thames towpath.
They walked from the Town Hall in St Aldate’s and along the river opposite Christ Church Meadow and discussed their experiences of late-night abuse.
On Wednesday, a 26-year-old woman was cycling on the towpath near Osney Mead when a man approached her from behind and sexually assaulted her.
One of the walk’s organisers, Rianna Atwill, 23, from Marston, said: “It is a coincidence that our walk happened just after this.
“But it is not unexpected. Lots of women do expect this to happen in Oxford.
“They want to be able to have the freedom that men have and be able to walk around at night, and yet they do not.”
The group, part of Oxford Feminists Network, hopes to make people more aware of harassment and the safety of women walking home at night.
The group holds an annual ‘reclaim the night’ protest in March and also has a Facebook page where people can post stories and get support.
A 50-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault following the Wednesday attack and released on bail until December 12.
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