Hundreds of feminists and anti-fascists gathered in London last Sunday, to march to Trafalgar Square, marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (IDEVW).
The march was made up many different organisations, from Brazilian Women against Fascism UK to the Kurdistan Students’ Union – all united in their commitment to fighting far-right ideologies.
One of the main organisers of the march, the Women’s Anti-Fascist Assembly, said in a statement: “Tonight, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we took to the streets of London as militant feminists committed to fighting fascism and sexism across the world. From Brazil to Rojava, from Poland to the UK, women are rising up and leading the fight against the far-right.”
The demonstration, which blocked traffic on Regent Street, was part of a greater mobilisation around Europe and the world. Tens of thousands took to the streets of Rome, Paris and Madrid, among other cities.
Hundreds of feminists and anti-fascists gathered in London on Sunday. Photo: Giacomo Antonelli
The London march appeared to be significantly smaller compared to the thousands in other cities.
Miriam, a young Italian charity worker who marched on Sunday, said: “It’s important that such a movement grows in the UK. It is not very strong at the moment, but we are working on it. I think it’s an important day to raise awareness especially here in the centre of London.”
To mark the IDEVW, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released figures that showed around 87,000 women were killed last year, the majority by intimate partners and family members.
UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov said that women continue to pay the highest price for gender inequality, discrimination and negative stereotypes.
The goals of the demonstration were broader than fighting gender-based violence. Both the organisers and the chants identified racism, white supremacy, fascism, bigotry and misogyny as inseparable enemies.
Lia, a German student, said : “You cannot really separate the issues. In a fascist system, the oppressed will be even more oppressed and this includes also women, people with other genders and sexual orientations beside ethnic minorities.”
While the demonstration was small, it was made up of committed activists. The largely female crowd chanted constantly, and floated large banners from the various organisations.
Men also took to the street to show solidarity for women and to protest against the rise of the far-right. Alejandro, a Spanish au pair in London, said: “I am here because I don’t like violence against women, I don’t like the figure that a man is supposed to be in this society.”
The demonstration ended in Trafalgar Square, with a call to take the streets again in protest of far-right figure Tommy Robinson’s “Brexit Betrayal” march on Sunday 9 December.