Riveters reclaim the park

The Riveters took to Whitworth Park at night to ‘reclaim the parks’ from violence against women last week.

The Riveters, The University of Manchester Students’ Union Women’s Rights Collective, donned high visibility jackets and took to an area that is considered dangerous for women at night. Safe passage, food and music were provided for anyone wishing to walk through the park at night without fear of physical or sexual violence. Maeve Bishop, a History and Politics student said: “Parks aren’t safe. Something needs to be done to ensure everyone is safe, not just women.”

Samantha Bail, currently studying for a PhD in Computer Sciences said: “I used to live on Moss Lane East but I always used to take the long way around [Whitworth] Park. [The campaign is] a fun idea: to go to places where you would never normally go at night.”

The UMSU’s Women’s Officer, Hazel Kent, is hoping the Reclaim the Parks campaign will highlight the need for “better lighting around parks and bus shelters,” as well as permanent signs in dangerous areas. When asked who would be able to make these changes, she said, “That is part of the problem. Who takes responsibility?”

“The solution should not be to stay at home,” added Bail, “the solution is to improve the situation.”

Original article in Student Direct: Mancunion