Thousands gather in Melbourne for Women’s March 4 Justice

Thousands of women streaming into Treasury Gardens on Monday to March 4 Justice were met with the names of 899 women and children.

Those names — of women and children killed by male violence in Australia since 2008 — were written onto a fabric scroll that was created by artist Danielle Bain.

Protesters holding up at a list of almost 899 women and children killed by male violence in Australia since 2008.Credit: Justin McManus

The scroll, called The Lost Petition, stretched the length of the podium where former Liberal MP Julia Banks and former Victorian Green Huong Truong led chants to a crowd of about 10,000 people.

Signs among the crowd were short and sweet. Ditch the Dicks. Angry Granny. Karens for Justice. Angry Women Will Change the World.

“I don’t want to be an angry feminist, yet here we are,” said a sign held by Tory Sorensen, 48, of Geelong.

Tory Sorensen came from Geelong to rally at Melbourne’s Treasury Gardens.Credit: Carolyn Webb

Ms Sorensen, a survivor of sexual assault, said the purpose of the day, to her, was for women “to be heard, hopefully”.

“It’s warming my heart. For so many people to come out at such short notice, it’s like, we’re not silent, any more.”

She said she did not report the assault at age 25 because she felt no one would believe her.

Two 16-year-old girls showed up in their school uniforms with one of the girls, Charlotte, saying she can catch up on her maths classes any time.

“We are just so angry that this is still a problem that we have to care about and have to live with every day.”

She said she was ashamed to be part of a victim-blaming nation that believes it is equal.

Heather Heldzingen, 72, of St Kilda, brought her granddaughter, Ella, 18, to the rally.Credit: Eddie Jim

Above them, a light plane circled with a banner flowing behind: “WOMEN VOTE TOO.”

Heather Heldzingen of St Kilda, 72, brought her granddaughter, Ella, 18, because “I think it’s very important for us women to show solidarity”.

“Young women are constantly receiving unwanted and unasked for attention that for us is annoying and often very aggressive and hostile.

“I think women have had enough of having to put up with male aggression.”

Crowds streamed into Treasury Gardens at 12 noon on Monday for the March 4 Justice.Credit: Eddie Jim

Joshua Davidson, 24, from Ballarat, brought a sign saying “Educate Your Son”, with a flipside saying “We Believe Her”. He said as a man, “I have a privilege that I can walk around and feel safe in my community” while his 23-year-old sister cannot.

“My sign is saying instead of trying to protect women and shield them, it’s educating men and our sons to treat women with better respect.”

Authorities approved a permit for 5000 people to attend and organiser Marcella Brassett told the cheering crowd to keep their masks on and maintain their distance.

“Guess what, we’re more than 5000 people,” she said.

Former MP Julia Banks spoke at the Melbourne rally.Credit: Justin McManus

Ms Banks told the crowd of mostly women that she was initially hesitant to speak up against powerful men at Monday’s action.

“What changed my mind to speak today was this, was all of you,” Ms Banks said. “Whether it’s safety in numbers I don’t know, but there’s a lot of numbers here.”

Ms Banks quit the Liberal Party to sit on the federal crossbench in 2018, citing disrespect for women in Australian politics, before exiting Parliament at the 2019 election.

Sue Anne Hunter, a Wurundjeri and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman from the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care and co-chair of Family Matters, said Aboriginal women had long-suffered gendered violence perpetrated by white men.

She said that white women needed to “take our cause with you”.

Victoria’s Minister for Women, Gabrielle Williams, attended Monday’s march and said the event proved women were no longer willing to be silent about the way sexual violence pervades their lives.

“What we’re seeing now is the community sending a message that they’re ready to have this conversation publicly. More than ready, they’re eager to have the conversation now,” she said.

Victoria Police praised the behaviour of the crowd, saying “all participants were compliant with the Chief Health Officer restrictions and no breaches or incidents were detected”.

Organisers believe the Melbourne rally has attracted more than 5000 people.Credit: Eddie Jim

A splinter group peeled off from the rally about 1pm and marched to the Victorian Liberal Party headquarters on Collins Street.

In a tense stand-off lasting 90 minutes, dozens of police, including from the Public Order Response Team and the mounted branch, surrounded protesters and the entrance to the building.

About 200 people, some in school uniforms, blocked Collins Street and a string of teenage girls detailed personal experiences of sexual harassment, assault, and police failures.

The crowd chanted “we believe her” after each testimony.

Protesters sang “Hey, Hey, Ho Ho, Christian Porter’s got to go”, referring to the federal Attorney-General, who has denied allegations that he raped a 16-year-old girl, when he was 17, in the late1980s.

Activist and former politician Phil Cleary said little had changed for women since his sister, Vicki, was killed by her ex-boyfriend outside her workplace in Coburg in 1987. He said women were still being assaulted and murdered.

Police arrested at least four people who glued themselves to the road at the intersection of Flinders and Swanston streets shortly after 1pm.

All four were taken into custody for obstructing traffic. Police emphasised they were not part of March 4 Justice.

with Paul Sakkal

National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line: 1800 737 732.

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