Twelve UK cities held coordinated protests this Saturday, 9 August, as UK Women’s March returned. The New Feminist attended the London march, where campaigners protested rising violence against women and girls.
Saturday’s UK Women’s March drew a smaller crowd than organisers hoped for, but that only amplified its impact. Around 20,000 to 24,000 people had joined protests in 21 cities earlier this year in January; this time, 12 cities hosted rallies on August 9. The leaner turnout did not dim the mood. Instead, those present turned up their energy with stronger voices used to fill the space left by thinner numbers, creating an atmosphere both warm and determined.
The organisation’s London lead, Jade Albas, stressed that mobilisation remains urgent, even as the government has declared violence against women and girls a national emergency. She pointed out a rising tide of misogynistic online rhetoric driving radicalisation among young men: “We are still seeing a massive rise in misogyny and violence against women and girls,” said Albas. “A new generation of men are being radicalised in anti-women spaces online, and it’s not making us any safer.” She sees deep cracks in public safety and warns that without serious societal interventions, the government’s timeline for change feels too distant to match the urgency on the ground.
Organisers made their aims clear, wanting more education in schools around violence and consent. A 2024 CPS study found teenagers aged 14 to 16 showed notably weaker understanding of consent than those over 65. Alarmingly, more than half surveyed believed consent shared publicly online gave entitlement to sex, and nearly half thought being drunk or high negated legal responsibility for rape. Albas called for curriculum reform and investment in youth services that centre boys and young men and offer positive role models.
Speakers drove those goals home. Katie White from Enough To End Rape spoke about rising sexual assault rates and the barriers women face when reporting. White highlighted the new initiative of self‑testing kits for survivors, giving some measure of agency in an often disempowering process. Ex‑Met dispatcher and whistleblower Issy Vine addressed both UK failures and global violence, including in Palestine, reminding the crowd that safety is a universal need, and women are not safe until the hatred and oppression they face stops.
One of the most unexpected and moving moments came from a speech given by two Chinese women attending the march, wearing masks and sunglasses to protect their identity. For many of the Chinese attendees, this was their first time at an event like this, and being seen at a protest in the UK carries real risk. They referred to a case in China where a young woman was expelled from university after openly dating a Ukrainian man. They spoke of widespread femicide in China, often unseen, and declared that if the state continues to take control of their bodies, they will refuse to procreate.
The mood on the streets was strikingly upbeat. Passers‑by were mostly positive with smiles, waves and supportive claps. Organisers shared that police presence exceeded expectations in a positive way. Seven vans staffed largely by women officers accompanied the march, checking in on accessibility, timing, and safety. One officer told the organiser, “stay as long as you want, there’s no rush.” Jade Albas expressed pleasant surprise at how supportive and engaged officers were.
On the wider stage, the government has again pledged to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, citing that a woman is killed every three days in the UK. Yet this march showed why declarations alone aren’t enough. People showed up because the promises still feel too distant and progress too slow.
UK Women’s March has said it plans to hold further protests in the future. Organisers hope future turnouts will match or exceed the numbers seen earlier this year, giving greater visibility and impact. We highly encourage you to support them, share their message and help build momentum for the next one. You can do so by following them on Instagram @ukwomensmarch.
