Reclaim the Night protest march comes to Hawick next week

An evening Reclaim the Night march, organised by the Galashiels-based Scottish Borders Rape Crisis Centre, is organised for Monday, November 25, and coincides with the United Nations’ Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The march will start at Unit 4: The Cornucopia Room, at 4 Tower Dykeside, Hawick at 6pm, and will be led by Dumfries-based band the Samba Sisters.

Selkirkshire councillor Elaine Thornton-Nicol and Hawick and Denholm councillor Clair Ramage will both speak at the event.

Ms Ramage said: “The Reclaim the Night march originated in the 70s under the banner ‘Take Back the Night’.

“We want everyone to take part as everyone has the right to be safe. The marches are worldwide and not specific to the UK, and this particular march is funded by Thomson Solicitors.

“These particular marches have taken place across the Scottish Borders for many years and this is Hawick’s second one.

“I would ask that everyone come out and support this worthwhile cause.”

Ms Thornton-Nicol added: “The most important message is that we will not tolerate this behaviour and it has to stop.”

Reclaim the Night marches first came to the UK in 1977, when a protest march was held in Leeds under the cloud of the Yorkshire Ripper killings.