15,000 participants for a silent march after the murder of Julie: Hopefully, mars is a clear signal to policy

Antwerp “We hope that this march is a clear signal to the policy of sexual violence no longer ignore,” said Eline Van Hooydonck at the end of the silent march against (sexual) violence, that they, together with two other friends organized. The mars names according to the local police of Antwerp 15,000 people part. The parade followed after the murder of Julie Of Espen from Schilde, belgium. Her family was not there, because they prefer no media attention. She had to know the support, greatly appreciate it.

The silent march ended around 15 hours on the Steenplein, where a bezinningsmoment followed. Thereafter, the three organizers of the word. “Thanks to here is so massively present. This proves that even in silence, a clear message can be given. We have this mars on its feet, but you have them strength,” said Charlotte Ruytjens.

“We hope that this mars is also a clear signal to the policy sexual violence is no longer to ignore. We hope that there are people, resources and time be used to of the fight against sexual violence a priority, without stigmatizing. That there is a commitment to both prevention and a change of mentality, as well as assistance and follow-up of the perpetrators and the victims,” said Eline Van Hooydonck.

horror stories

“We have the past few days many terrible stories received. Stories like the murder of Julie, stories about brutal rape, about incest, about limits that are exceeded, on people who are being abused by a well-known. They are all of us stuck. Sexual violence is a structural problem, that gender, ethnic origin, colour, religion and social class borders. We want the victims to thank to give us the opportunity to give them a voice. And we want to thank you with this march to give a face to victims of sexual violence. Thank you very much”, said: Ayke Gubbels.

The three friends were given loud applause. Then there was a minute of silence held to Julie to commemorate. Her death was the impetus for this silent march. That was around 14 hours, began on the Queen astrid square. By the large turnout served the route even to be changed and was the passage along the Oude Koornmarkt and the Suikerrui replaced by the Reyndersstraat and the Vlasmarkt to the Steenplein.

please review below the full liveverslaggeving of the silent mars

Three friends took the initiative for the march, as a protest against (sexual) violence and sexual behaviour. “In silence, but hopefully in great numbers, we will actievoeren against a policy that fails victims of (sexual) violence in the let. This mars is in silence held for the action. This is how we give a face to those who never heard”, it sounds on the Facebook page of the silent march.

Who today can't get by, but the action you do want to support, can be a short video and share it on social media with the words “Share your voice” and the hashtag #Enough.