Solidarity march for rape victims shuts down O'Connell Street

By 12:45pm today, O'Connell Street was loaded with people. Young women carrying placards, standing shoulder to shoulder. Elderly women in bright coats, mothers with buggies, men supporting their friends and girlfriends. One young man holds his girlfriend tight against his chest as she sobs into his arms, one hand holding a sheet of paper emblazoned with I Stand With Her.

"I Believe Her. I Believe Her" is chanted again and again, as the crowd continues to swell in size and volume. The rain is no deterrent to those attending. They are tired, they are angry - they stand in solidarity. By 13:00pm Gardaí have appeared on the scene to shut down part of the street to traffic as the protest grows in both numbers and emotion.

Following the verdict from the Belfast Rape Trial where all four men in question were acquitted after a trial that lasted eight weeks and a jury discussion of three hours and forty-five minutes, there has been a huge outpouring of support for the victim in question.

Between the line of questioning the victim was subjected to, the intense public scrutiny, and now this verdict - the impact this will have on other victims disclosing their stories in the future is immeasurable.

— Louise O' Neill (@oneilllo) March 28, 2018

This survivor was incredible. She took every opportunity she could to refut the victim-blaming that was inflicted upon her, to dismantle the myths that patriarchy uses to protect abusers & blame victims. I’m so grateful for her, & so fucking sorry. I’m so sorry. #IBelieveHer

— Roe McDermott (@roemcdermott) March 28, 2018

Mere hours after the verdict was released, an event page for the protest to stand in support with victims of sexual assault appeared on Facebook. Along with Dublin, there were several others around the country - Belfast, Limerick, Dundalk to name but a few. From one of the speakers, Anita – a representative from ROSA (Socialist Feminist Movement) – we learnt that today's rally was an impulsive move from two young citizens of Ireland. They set up a Facebook page event and once they saw the traction they were gaining online, enlisted the help of TD Ruth Coppinger from People Before Profit. A sound system was rapidly sourced, and organisations such as the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre were contacted to speak.

"Thanks to the work we also do for the ARC, we knew what we needed and who to contact," Anita explains. Standing in front of the spire, Anita has been chanting into the microphone for over an hour, uniting the crowd with My Body, My Choice and vocalising the urgent need for Ireland to re-asses how it treats victims of rape. "We are calling for an end to assault, for people to proactively seek consent. We are also calling on the government - fund the services we need!"

The rally is both incredibly emotional and supportive. There are tears and hugs, pats on the back mingled in with the raw fury. As ROSA allow members of the crowd to step up and speak, one women breaks into sobs as she recalls that due to a lack of funding, the Dublin Crisis Rape clinic had to push her appointment and assessment back by a large number of months, thus reducing the chance of her rapist being persecuted. Another speaks of a night at a house party, where she blacked out and the next morning awoke to relief that she hadn't been raped or assaulted - "because that's what women expect when they get drunk now."

The majority of those we speak to tell us how this highlights the misogyny and sexism that still exists within Ireland. That the victim received an unfair trial after being on trial herself and being subject to such humiliation.

"I am here for one main reason - I am not protesting the jury. But I am protesting the thought of the IRFU allowing such men to continue representing Ireland. They treat women like pigs," spits one protestor. Her friend nods in agreement as they both hold up pink place cards demanding that Irish rugby cleans itself up.

One young women mentions how deeply upset her friends were by the verdict, having experienced sexual assault themselves. "I'm here to support them and everyone else who has been let down by the Irish court system."

That is the refraining topic. Here to support. We believe you. Ireland must do better.

A march will take place on Saturday 31st March, from outside Central Bank on Dame Street. Commencing at 2:00pm, the crowd will march towards the Daíl.