International Women’s Day brought over 100 protesters together outside the Bombed Out Church to fight against misogyny and sexism.
The protest was part of the annual global celebration to raise awareness for gender equality, with Liverpool hosting its own march throughout the city.
The march invited women and non-binary people to stand against rape culture, LGBTQ+ rights being violated, gender-based violence and fascist movements that threaten Human Rights.
African demonstrators joined the event to show their defiance of the treatment of women in Sudan, calling for an end to the government and regime currently in place. Chanting outside the church called to free the women being held by the government and alleging receiving physical abuse for protesting standards in the country.
A campaigner from Save the Liverpool Women’s Hospital, Felicity Dowling, explained why the event is needed and isn’t just a fun girls day out.
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She told JMU Journalism: “It’s really to say that women demand civil rights, health care rights, educational rights, a decent wage and the right to care. In austerity, women have taken 80% of the cuts, especially women with children. Women still don’t have equal pay and thousands of women are sacked every month because they’re pregnant.
“In Sweden, if you pay £150 you can have all the childcare you need. Norway used all their oil revenue to pay for childcare, but in this country and this city, you have families that can’t feed their kids even if they’re in work. Taking off the surface, there is still a long way to go.”
The march started at the Bombed Out church and made its way down Bold Street and through the city centre. Protesters carried signs and chanted with megaphones, holding speeches throughout the city, accompanied by the samba drum group, Katumba.