Bournemouth joins UK women's rights march

Photo of protesters. Photo taken by Cat Lindsay

Thousands of people marched for women’s rights across the UK on Saturday.

The Bournemouth march began in the Triangle. They marched down the high street through the gardens, continuing to Bournemouth Pier before marching back to the gardens.

Sophie Whithers, one of the organisers for the march in Bournemouth, said she was really keen to organise the protest because she “really resonated with the whole message of the women’s march and sexism and misogyny effects everybody.”

She added: “I’m so surprised at the turn out today, it’s so inspiring.”

One of the inspirations behind the march was that Donald Trump was voted back into the White house in November.

With his inauguration being yesterday the women thought it seemed fitting to arrange the march for the weekend before.

Protest sign saying dump trump. Photo taken by Cat Lindsay

Sarah Edwards, a protestor, said: “There’s growing concerns about the rights for women in the US as well as rights being taken away globally, there’s a real sense of ‘we’re not ready or prepared to let that happen’.”

Cllr George Farqhar made an appearance and said: “I think it’s so important to show solidarity for the Women’s March today, it’s such a great movement.”

National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) reporting a 37% increase from 2018 to 2023.

Cllr Farquhar added: “I’m very alarmed by the fact that violence against women and girls is up 37% and I think it’s quite right that these voices should be heard and supported.”

Womenkind Worldwide say that one in three women around the world have experienced violence.

In the report ‘The state of girls’ rights in the UK 2024’ they found that 93% of girls and young women do not feel ‘completely safe’ in public places.

Sophie said: “As modern women today, I know people have got different opinions of the suffragettes, but at the end of the day we are all reaping the benefits of what they have done all those years ago. I hope that those women [women against the movement] see that we are the women that are fighting for their rights regardless of whether they believe it or not, we want all women to have equal rights.”

Even though women are ‘reaping the benefits’ of what the suffragettes did, there is still a long way to go.

According to the office for national statistics in the UK in 2024, the gender pay gap for full-time employees was 7%, and the gender pay gap for all employees was 13.1%.

With chants loud and banners held high, women emphasise that the fight for equality will continue.