WE HAVE A RIGHT TO THE NIGHT

We have a right to go without fear of violence by day and night. We have a right to safety in our cities, streets, homes and communities. This is a human right. A right we should and must all have, regardless of our gender identity, race, religion, class, sexuality and dis/abilities. A right that some were born with and some still need to claim everyday. It is vital to rethink who’s at threat in the streets and all public places.

With the “ We have a right to the night” campaign, we are reclaiming our nights, standing together in memory of Sarah Everard and all people harmed by state and gendered violence. We won’t stay silent. We won’t let anyone telling us again to stay indoors for our safety. Enough is enough. We must stop being blamed for the violence towards us. Telling us how we should behave for our safety is allowing abusers to take up space. It’s giving them the power to keep insulting, catcalling, spiting, grabbing, slapping, punching, raping, murdering us.

We also want to address the key role that education has in the deconstruction of a patriarchal system that perpetuates oppression and exploitation. We must question and rethink our children’s education. We must start educating our sons in the respect of everybody. We must stop teaching our daughters to be scared but empower them. We must give space and listen to LBGTQIA+ children / teenagers, for them to embrace and celebrate their identities.

Last week a woman was killed. Killed by the system we’re told protects. Once more.

It’s a moment where people need space to mourn, share and rise up. Injustice tightens the need to stand in togetherness. It’s a time to care for Sarah Everard’s murder. And beyond. It’s a time to care for each other and make sure no one is left behind. We must deconstruct the old political discourse around gender violence, so we can protect, support and give space to all victims.

We are disgusted but not surprised that the only response that was made by authorities was to increase police presence in our streets. More police has never been the answer. Police violence is a reality for many of us, especially for BIPOC, sex workers, trans and non-binary people. Sarah Everad’s murder proves us once more that we can’t feel protected by the police. How could we trust an institution that was created to protect people in power ? How could we trust them when they cannot even ensure the reliability of their own staff members ? How could we trust an institution that is racist, misogynistic, homophobic and transphobic?

We will hold boroughs, MPs, councils and the government accountable for not putting everything in place to end all gendered violence, including police, state and interpersonal. We will hold them accountable for the police brutality during last Saturday’s vigil.

However, we want to recognize all the existent strategies that we have always created to keep each other safe and we want to keep on building more. We claim that we don’t need our abusers to patronize us into power dynamics disguised as fake protection. We can and will keep on showing up for each other, extending our solidarity and creating further our resistance.

Our campaign aims to give visibility to all victims of male violence and we urge that actions are taken to end all gendered violence.

Inspired by The Outside Project’s COVID19 campaign ‘make space for homeless queers’, we are inviting all victims and survivors of male violences to take a picture of themselves holding our online protest message “ We have a right to the night #reclaimthestreets #stopallgenderedviolences” and share it on their social medias as well as signing this petition.

This letter is for those of you who have experienced any type of male violences in the streets, in your homes, at work — and all public spaces. We stand beside all of you regardless of your gender, sexuality, dis/abilities, ethnic, religious and class background.

UNITED WE WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED !

Emilie Largier - RUCKLE Theatre
Sara Karpanen - Women of the Wick
Wick Black Lives Matter