“Killed by the system we’re told ‘protects’ us.” These were the striking words on one placard at the vigil for Sarah Everard on Clapham Common in London – a protest against the daily violence, oppression, and unsafe conditions that women face under capitalism.
In the case of Sarah Everard – and her harrowing murder, allegedly at the hands of a serving police officer – women everywhere see themselves, and the traumatising experiences they live through day-in, day-out as a result of this oppressive system.
Across the world, however, women are rising up against these injustices. From Mexico to Argentina; from Ireland to Poland: women are coming out onto the streets against gender-based violence; against workplace harassment; and against repressive abortion laws – in short, against this oppressive status quo, and against the politicians and police who uphold it.
As the slogan above states: the system isn’t protecting us – it is killing us. We need to unite and fight to overthrow this whole rotten, violent, oppressive system.
