Hundreds march against male violence in Haringey

An estimated 500 people took to the streets in Haringey, marching from Finsbury Park to Ducketts Common in support of women’s rights organisation, Reclaim These Streets.

The march, which took place on Saturday evening (4th December), saw demonstrators march along Green Lanes, calling for an end to male violence against women and girls.

The UK Reclaim These Streets campaign, launched following the murder of Sarah Everard in March, has seen vigils and marches organised by women across the country. The campaign is calling for a woman’s right to walk the streets without fear.

Addressing the crowd, Hornsey and Wood Green Labour MP, Catherine West, said: “I am very pleased to join Haringey women to reclaim our streets tonight.

“I first joined a march to reclaim our streets in the early 1990s but women still live in fear of attack and tonight we send a message loud and clear to recognise women’s right to safe streets and to demand decent services for women who have experienced rape and violence.

“Women from every age group, background and creed will join together in a cry for the freedom to walk in safety and security today and for our future.”

The local march was organised by the women’s branches of the Haringey Labour Party alongside the Haringey Trades Council, the National Education Union and Unite Community.

The organisers state, that according to figures from Haringey Council, there have been 3,280 domestic abuse crimes, 5,320 domestic abuse incidents, 868 sexual offences, and 329 women and girls raped in the last twelve months.

Haringey Council leader, Peray Ahmet said: “I want women to be part of helping us to make our streets safe. Our borough should be designed for us and by us, and I refuse to be another person in a position of power who does things to, and not with, women.”