Hundreds of people are set to gather in Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park next month to demand streets and public areas are made safer at night.
The demonstration has been planned as part of Clyde 1 & 2’s #LightTheWay campaign, and calls for improved lighting in city parks and to highlight the safety concerns of women and groups across Glasgow.
Protesters will gather on December 10 at the Stewart Memorial Fountain to demand Glasgow City Council do more to keep parks and streets safe.
Clyde 1 has been has been highlighting the need to improve the safety of women.
Their initiative ‘I Walk With Women’ examined what more men can do to help keep the streets safe.
December 10, the date of the demonstration, also marks the end of the UN’s annual 16 day campaign against gender based violence.
The campaign has brought together a range of community groups and organisations who are calling on Glasgow City Council to provide safe lighting in Glasgow’s greenspaces, particularly Kelvingrove Park which is one of the most popular in the city.
The Record previously reported how Police Scotland were forced to apologise during COP26 when local residents were directed to walk through a dimly lit area of Kelvingrove to get home as a result of security diversions.
Generator powered lights were temporarily put into the park for the event and campaigners are keen that the improved light is now made permanent.
The issue of women’s safety is continuing to remain high on the agenda.
Former lord advocate Elish Angiolini was recently appointed by the Home Office to chair an inquiry into the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard and Glasgow campaigners believe it is more important than ever that action is taken.
Hosted by Clyde 1’s Cassi Gillespie, the event will have a range of speakers including Natalie Crawford-Goodwin from the #LightTheWay campaign, with additional speakers to be announced closer to the date.
#LightTheWay spokesperson and award-winning campaigning journalist at Clyde 1 News, Natalie Crawford, said: “Friday 10th December, the day of the demonstration is the last day in the UN’s 16 days of action against gender-based violence so it is really appropriate to bring together #IWalkWithWomen and #LightTheWay.
“We can - and must - do more to protect women across Glasgow and we have already seen that action can be taken when there is political will.
“This demonstration will ensure that decision-makers know that we will not stay silent and that women’s, and all Glaswegian’s, safety at night should be a top priority.
“We are anticipating a good turnout which will reflect the strength of feeling about the campaign- we must protect women better.”
Host and co-presenter of Clyde 1’s Bowie@Breakfast, Cassi Gillespie, said: “I just don’t feel safe on my local streets at the moment.
“I don’t think there’s enough lighting anywhere, in parks, on country roads and even rural areas. And as the world is moving, we’re being asked to walk more and cycle more - how are we supposed to do that when we don’t feel safe at night?
“I limit myself to daytime hours because I can’t walk through my local park – there’s no lighting. It’s not just about women’s safety, it’s about us all feeling safe when we walk the streets at night.”
The #LightTheWay demonstration takes place at 6pm on Friday the 10th of December at the Stewart Memorial Fountain in Kelvingrove Park.
