‘Even now we’re having to think about getting home safely’: Campaigners march in memory of women killed by men

REFLECTION: A minute’s silence held at ‘Libby’s Bench’ in Beverley Road

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

A march and moments of reflection were held in Hull tonight on International Women’s Day to remember women lost to male violence.

Organised by Say Her Name Hull, a group of about 20 demonstrators gathered at “Libby’s Bench” in Beverley Road, where the event began with a minute’s silence in memory of student Libby Squire, 21, who was raped and murdered on February 1, 2019.

VICTIM: Libby Squire

The group then walked to Princes Avenue and paused for further reflection in Hinderwell Street, where Claudia Kambanza, 22, was fatally stabbed at about 3am on January 26 this year.

The march, which included Hull City Council University ward Councillor Holly Burton, and Councillor Hester Bridges, deputy leader of the Hull Labour group, concluded with a rally in Queen Victoria Square in the city centre.

Shocking figures show a woman is killed by a man every three days in the UK, while one in four women are victims of domestic abuse.

Say Her Name spokeswoman Sian Humphries told The Hull Story: “Say Her Name campaigns to highlight the issue of male violence and violence against women and girls through remembering the women who have died at the hands of men.

VICTIM: Claudia Kambanza

“We are doing it on International Women’s Day because women’s rights have moved on a huge amount but there’s so much work to be done, and in this one area of violence against women and girls, so much needs to be done.

“We are starting at Libby’s Bench because her death not only caused a huge shock for everyone from this community and across Hull but because the circumstances around her death happened as a result of escalating criminal behaviour.

CAMPAIGN: The group marching along Beverley Road

“One thing we are campaigning on is an awful lot of violence against women and girls is seen as low-level, non-contact offences that actually potentially escalate into something so much more serious.

“And it’s ironic that here we are, organising a march on International Women’s Day, and we are also having to think about how we can get everyone home safely and make sure everyone’s OK afterwards.”