On the streets of Fallowfield, their chants could be heard loud and clear - "my body, my choice" and "whose streets? My streets."
Thousands of students of all genders stopped traffic along Wilmslow Road this evening (November 30) to spread their message - gender based violence must be eradicated.
The march, which started at Manchester University's Owen's Park campus, and culminated at the Student's Union on Oxford Road, was part of the annual Reclaim the Streets demonstration.
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Every year, streams of students take to the city's streets united by the same mission to end gender based violence and sexual harassment.
The historical event dates back to 1977 in Leeds, when women marched as part of a response to the Yorkshire Ripper murders, when local police instructed women to stay out of public spaces after dark.
But over 45 years on, the demonstration has as much significance today as it did in the 1970s, as activists say the world is still a long way from eradicating gender based violence.
Each year, the campaign is shaped by a particular focus. In 2021, the march largely centred on violence on the streets, following the horrific murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa.
This year, campaigners brought the fight closer to home - raising awareness of sexual violence on their university campus, and demanding a 'speak up' culture by calling sexual violence by its name.
Armed with banners which read 'misogyny is hate,' and 'safety is a right, not a privilege,' their chants echoed through the streets of south Manchester.
Celina Pereira, Students’ Union’s Wellbeing and Liberation Officer at Manchester University, headed this year's campaign and gave a powerful speech to thousands of fellow students.
She told the M.E.N: "We need to normalise the idea that we can't stay silent. We have to speak up about these issues if we want change. That's why it's so important for people to show their solidarity.
"The march has been going for a long time which shows the problem has still not been solved. We have to show that gender based violence is still happening and that it's still an issue."
Tonight's ties in with the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence - an annual international campaign that kicked off on November 25, the International Day for Elimination of Violence against women, and runs until Human Rights Day on December 10.
Throughout November, Manchester Students union are campaigning and fundraising for two chosen charities, Manchester Rape Crisis and Galop - who work with and for LGBT+ victims and survivors of abuse and violence in the UK.
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