Hundreds join Leiden Reclaim the Night march
‘Let’s get everyone home safely!’ This was the message of an estimated 750 demonstrators as they marched through the centre of Leiden on 18 November. The march was a student initiative. Participants, including Rector Hester Bijl, stressed the importance of solidarity.
‘App me when you get home. Share your location.’ From a rooftop terrace on Pieterskerkplein on Tuesday evening, Rector Hester Bijl addressed the crowd, ‘It’s unacceptable that women feel unsafe at night. When I was a student, we all had to make our own arrangements. It’s great that we collectively no longer accept this, and that there is more solidarity to make sure everyone gets home safely.’
She praised student associations for becoming more active and called for the culture change to continue, ‘Stay alert, help each other and speak up if something doesn’t feel right!’
Alone at night
The long procession wound through the city centre to the Minerva student association building on Breestraat. The march was organised by Minerva’s Foundation for Socially Responsible Students (MOS) in collaboration with other Leiden student associations. Medical student Maria from MOS was delighted with the turnout. ‘It’s amazing so many of us have turned up tonight,’ she said. ‘Students are often out and about at night. We want to make the streets safer for everyone. No one should feel afraid.’
Looking out for each other
Among the demonstrators were many male students, including Roemer. Why did he join the march? ‘I know someone who had a nasty experience, and that definitely makes an impression. That’s why I sometimes walk female friends home when it’s late. My association, Minerva, also posts in the app if something has happened and tells us to look out for each other.’
Permanent attention
Jasper Bitter, a policy officer at Student and Educational Affairs, also took part. ‘I’m the project leader of the student dignity and respect plan. We want to raise awareness and promote consent. We also want people to know what support is available. Last week we had a week devoted to the topic. It’s an issue that requires ongoing attention.’
Allies
The evening ended with a speech by Paula van den Boom, director of Rosa Manus women’s shelter, in the Minerva auditorium. She too stressed the need for a broad culture change in society. ‘Safety begins with standing up for each other: for example, if someone makes a bad joke or intimidates someone else. If we don’t do that, we create fertile ground for violence. Let’s be allies in the fight against this!’