A demonstration gathered on College Green tonight, 20th March, to share rage at the murder of Sarah Everard and the ongoing state of violence against women. 

Around 100 people gathered over the 45 minute event, which was not organized but emerged spontaneously, to take part in expressions of rage and anger by screaming together.  

When asked why she was taking part, one demonstrator said ‘it’s about feeling so much rage and recognising that so many of my female friends are feeling really angry right now with the violence of the patriarchal system that we exist within.

‘It just felt really important to find a way to come together to express it.

‘As a woman, I’ve never yelled at someone, or I’ve never pushed or I’ve never, you know, I never really express much rage at all, but staying silent, holding in the rage, is the thing that allows things to stay the same.’

The event also gave space to women to testify to their experiences of sexual assault and of the responses they had received from friends and from the police. Many women reported being ignored, silenced, or even sectioned after speaking about their experiences in the past. 

One speaker, who told of her experiences of being assaulted and ignored, put it succinctly: ‘I’m so fucking full of rage’.

Going forwards, some of the women spoke of what they want next: ‘women need to come together, to be able to form collective networks to be able to help themselves to feel safe.

“And that’s true for men as well. Like, really considering “how can I stand in solidarity with women”?’

Those present at the demonstration on Saturday agreed to meet again the following week, Saturday 27th March, at 7pm.