HUNDREDS gathered at the Scottish Parliament on Saturday before marching through Edinburgh ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, 20th January.
The Edinburgh Women’s March was just one of 22 women’s marches organised across the UK for this weekend, in solidarity with women in America and around the world. Protesters carried colourful signs with slogans such as "men of quality respect equality," "my body, my choice" and "a war on women is a war on us all".
Local organisers Ashley Donaldson and Carolyn Storer told The National: “Through the power of social media, a group of passionate women (strangers) has been able to empower one another, and in a mere 67 days, have organised marches in 21 cities and towns across the UK.
"The date is significant as we are marching in support of our sisters across the pond, who are also preparing to march in the USA ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration.
"Many believe the attitudes and beliefs of those about to retake office in the US wouldn’t happen—couldn’t happen—here in the UK. However, sadly, we have already seen public and political figures in the UK aligning themselves with these beliefs, and we want to ensure our voice is heard with a loud and resounding NO.
"Violence against women and girls has been declared a national emergency, and we want to open up conversations and educate younger generations to help eradicate this for generations of women and girls to come.”
The march left Holyrood, and with chanting and singing, eventually finished up at The Meadows, where several speakers shared harrowing accounts of abuse they have experienced at the hands of men, causing silence to fall over the crowd and many to wipe away tears as they listened.
Women attended today’s march for a variety of reasons.
Kirsty, who travelled from Fife to attend the march, told The National that she is marching for the women in the USA and Afghanistan, as she believes the rollback of rights in these countries may encourage men in positions of power in the UK to do similar things to women at home.
Weronika, a Polish woman living in Scotland, marched for multiple reasons. She stated that one reason is the "rampant violence against women in the UK, which is not talked about enough".
Coming from a country with very strict abortion laws, she also said she was “walking for all women in Poland who are unable to access safe abortion and are feeling stuck and scared, for my mum and sister who are there and struggle to access even contraception or OBGYN care that treats them as human beings.”
She also felt compelled to march due to having a family member who survived the Holocaust and was always taught that "never again means never again for anyone.".
"I'm marching for all the women in Palestine, as the situation is appalling, and the fact that this has gone on for so long without governments stepping in and allowing this genocide to happen is unacceptable."
A woman, who wishes to be known only as Emma, said: "I am marching for Dora Moona, Sarah Everard, Jess Phillips, myself, and my daughter, who deserves a chance to live free from male violence."
