Women fight for the night
ARCHERS IN THE OUSU-organised 'Reclaim the Night' march were attacked with an egg and a light bulb and were subject to verbal abuse during what was described as an otherwise successful event.
The two incidents, which are not known to be connected, occurred in the second half of the march after the procession had passed Magdalen Bridge. Ironically, on the bridge a brief speech had been made about not being afraid of the Oxford on the 'other side of the bridge' because such fears limited freedom and were usually imagined.
The first incident occurred on Cowley Road where witnesses reported that an egg was hurled from a car. It missed the marchers, hitting the ground and a few shoes. In the second, more serious, event a light bulb was thrown at the demonstration as they turned on to Iffley Road. Though a few protesters were hit by flying glass shards no one was hurt. Witnesses reported seeing a young man who came from behind the march throwing the bulb before running away.
Many of those demonstrating believed the events just highlighted the significance of the march. Leah Zeto, co-chair of OUSU Women's Committee, commented, "The main feeling when we got abuse was that it just proved how important it was that we were out there saying and doing what we do, so that the message was heard loudly." She added: "The more times we go out there, the sooner people will get it into their heads that the kind of negative behaviour we saw on Wednesday is not acceptable."
The annual march states as its motivation a combination of trying to change attitudes of students and the public, and raising consciousness of practical measures that can be taken to increase safety on the streets. Such measures include better lighting, town-planning, public transport and policing.
The OUSU women's committee have expressed a view that a lack of the police escort left the marchers open to attack. The procession on Wednesday night was not adjudged major enough to warrant a police escort. This meant that marchers had to stick to the pavement. One participant, Ella Dickson, said of the attacks "I don't think this would have happened if we had had a police escort."
The march started at the Rad Cam and went down Broad Street onto Cornmarket Street, where Jane Blumer, OUSU VP-Women, explained part of the motivation for the demonstration: "We should walk where we want without being scared or worrying about our clothes or thinking that it looks as though we're asking for it." The march then moved up High Street, with a brief detour down Magpie Lane, over Magdalen Bridge, down Cowley Road and finishing at Iffley Road.
The participants were also subject to verbal abuse from residents of the top floor of the Liddell building, believed to be Christ Church students. One of the protesters recorded the staircase and flat number and reported the incident. It is believed the Christ Church junior censor disciplined the students yesterday.
Despite such an eventful march, the organisers were still positive about the event, claiming it was double the size of last year's march and that the reactions were mostly encouraging. Zeto stated happily: "Most people we went passed seemed very positive and supportive. We even picked up some people on the way."
15th Feb 2001