'Reclaim the Night' march sees hundreds take to Manchester's streets in powerful stance
23.03.2022 - 12:35
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Hundreds of people took to the streets of south Manchester to march against sexual assault and gender-based violence in the city on Tuesday evening. It marked a stellar 45 years of the 'Reclaim the Night' campaign, first called back in 1977, as young people took a firm stance to call out assaults on the city's streets.
Students turned out in their masses to express their own views, armed with banners, t-shirts and megaphones that waved in the air as they headed through the streets. Their mission carried them from the Owen's Park university campus, in Fallowfield, along Wilmslow Road towards the city centre.
The Reclaim the Night march aimed to shed an honest light on the amount of violence still happening on the streets of the Manchester - as well as on how to educate the community and provide better, accessible services and support for victims. Many at the march noted that this year's campaign was of particular importance, following the brutal murders of women Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa and Ashling Murphy.
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And after 45 years of marching, their message was clearer than ever, as they chanted for the rights of all women and marginalised genders to feel safer on the streets. You can read more information about the Reclaim the Night campaign here.
Pals Kayleigh, Jessie, and Leah grouped together to join the march on Tuesday evening. They spoke to the M.E.N and expressed their reasons for wanting to take part, as well as opening up about their own experiences as young women living in the city.
Jessie said: "One of our friends was actually mugged just the other day and feels really unsafe now everywhere she goes. It