Repetitions per decade: Voices of activists past and present

Abstract

In the next chapters, you will hear from some of the many activists across the UK who are giving up their time and energy to attend, organise and fundraise for RTN and many other causes for social justice. These are the women who keep the tradition of RTN alive. They have taken on the flaming torch from our sisters who went before us and with it, the responsibility to ensure this march continues onwards; for as long as it remains necessary. Throughout my research and through my own activism, I have been privileged to meet many of these committed activists. I have also been lucky enough to join and even lead many RTN marches in different towns and cities. Some of these marches followed tragic events; they were angry protests at recent rapes perpetrated by men against women in their city for example. Others were in response to all too common police ‘advice’ after such cases, suggesting effectively that women should not go out if they did not want to be raped. The defence of local services was another reason to march, protesting against funding or closure threats for Women’s Aid refuges or Rape Crisis Centres.