Tens of thousands take to streets across UK to march in solidarity with oppressed women around world
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Survivors of sexual violence among emotional demonstrators brought together in fight for equality when women’s rights under threat globally. Survivors of sexual violence were among the tens of thousands who have taken to the streets across the UK to march in solidarity with all oppressed women and girls around the world.
![[Thousands of women attended events across the country]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/18/19/IMG_0823.jpg)
Around 5,000 demonstrators walked alongside loved ones and strangers in London on Saturday, shouting chants like “My body, my choice,” and “What do we want? Safety. When do we want it? Now,” while intricate homemade signs reading “And still we rise” and “Women hold up half the sky” were held up.
![[Demi Reilly (right) travelled to the capital from Northampton to attend the London march with her sister (left)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/18/19/IMG_0841.jpg)
Organisers estimated up to 21,000 women turned out at 21 marches around the country, coming together in their fight for equality at a pivotal time and two days ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration. Demi Reilly, 30, told The Independent she attended: “To represent the woman oppressed everywhere. Collectively we need to raise our voices. No woman is free until all women are free... we can’t let s*** slide anymore.”.
![[The protesters have come together in their fight for equality at a pivotal time, when women’s rights are under threat globally]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/18/19/IMG_0831.jpg)
Anne-Marie Langeveldt, 42, who came from Watford to be there with her mother, pointed to the statistic that around one in three women and girls worldwide are subjected to physical or sexual violence during their lifetime, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). She described this as “all of society’s problem” and said she is protesting “for the next generation”.
![[Anne-Marie Langeveldt (left) who travelled from Watford to be there with her mother (right), pointed to the shocking statistic that around one in three women and girls worldwide are subjected to physical or sexual violence during their lifetime]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/18/19/IMG_0846.jpg)
An emphasis was put on the intersectionality of the events, with speakers in the capital highlighting that combatting other forms of discrimination, including transphobia, homophobia, ableism, racism, ageism and classism is all part of the feminist fight. Organisers said they have been left “deeply inspired”, after the demonstrations illustrated “the power of collective action and solidarity”.
![[Up to 20,000 were estimated by organisers to have turned out at 21 marches around the country]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/18/19/IMG_0869.jpg)
