Cardiff protests violence against women

By Mia Hollsing (Socialist Party Wales) and other socialist women

About 150 women and men turned up to the vigil to express their anger at the death of Sarah Everard on the steps of the Senedd in Cardiff on Saturday despite the police ban on the events and having to walk through the gauntlet of police surrounding the building. There was a heavy police presence all around every pathway to the Senedd and vans and police horses ready to be brought in.

Covid -19 is a killer, but so is male violence against women – on average two women are killed by a partner or ex-partner every week in the UK. This protest was safe – outdoors, socially distanced and with people wearing masks – much safer than many workplaces which are still allowed to remain open.

There was a sombre but angry mood and many young women got up to speak about the their own experiences of violence with no support from those who should have helped them report the crimes. This was a determined mood for action and change at the vigil and there was a warm reception to socialist ideas to tackle oppression. There was a real sense of unity and the need to get everyone involved in tackling violence against women.

Many women talked about their experiences of domestic abuse, rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment, and how this is not taken seriously by the police and the criminal justice system. The anger was palpable. We need to turn this anger in to action. With violence against women now in the media, this is the time to make demands.

Socialist Party member Mia Hollsing spoke on the level of violence in society, the extent of domestic violence and the need to unite the working class to act. Standing on the steps of the Senedd she also highlighted the failure of politicians in tackling discrimination and violence and the real impact cuts of our public services were having on women’s lives, and got a supportive response when she stated this was the reason she had decided to stand as a TUSC candidate in the Senedd elections.

There was outrage that trans women had felt the need to ask in advance if it was ok for them to attend. And the protesters saw the clear link between the oppression of women and the lack of support in dealing with violent crimes against women and the racism experienced by the black community in the city. There was wholehearted support for justice for the family of Mohamud Mohammed Hassan who died after being held in police custody and criticism of the police.

There was support for socialist demands that the trade union movement must stand up for the right to protest and mobilise and unite the six million members to root out discrimination and abuse in all workplaces, schools and colleges.

This vigil demonstrated the anger and the determination of women to stand up and build a movement to tackle the way we are treated in society – this determination was very clear and has now hardened after the protesters saw how the police had waded into attack the vigil in Clapham with further protests being organised.

We demand:

• Defend the right to protest
• Democratic community control of the police
• No more victim blaming – for the right of every woman to go where she wants, when she wants, dressed how she wants
• Healthy relationships, consent and gender equality to be taught in every school
• A Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) policy for every workplace
• Zero tolerance for sexual harassment
• Proper funding for and democratic control of VAWDASV services
• A socialist society that meets the needs of women and of all working class people, putting people before profit

This article was updated on March 15 with additional reports