Despite very wet and windy weather a good crowd turned up to a recent Reclaim The Night demonstration in Alexandria, which was organised to make the world a safer place for women.

A group of about 20 people gathered at the top of Mitchell Way on Thursday, November 27 for the event which was led by women’s rights activist Lynda Hannah McEwan.

This was Lynda’s second Reclaim The Night protest after she held one in Dumbarton in 2016 which attracted 70 people and she was pleased that at least a small crowd of people joined her.

They kicked off the night by chanting phrases such as ‘Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho – The Patriarchy’s Got to Go’, followed by speeches from special guests Louise Roberston from West Dunbartonshire Community Party and Emma McKerry, who is also a women’s rights activist.

This year’s theme was sexual harassment in the workplace, and as well as talking on this topic, the speakers discussed rape culture and the need for more education in schools, colleges, workplaces and trade unions to end violence against women and teach the importance of consent.

The demonstration was also filmed for a BBC documentary about poverty in Scotland which will be presented by rapper and social commentator Darren “Loki” McGarvey - author of Poverty Safari: Understanding the Anger of Britain’s Underclass.

Lynda said: “People were enthused by it and enjoyed the speakers who were brilliant.

“Sexual harassment is in every workplace and it can even happen to women at the top, as we saw during the #MeToo campaign.

“There does seem to be more of a culture of it in industries where women are low paid and have less rights.

“The speakers also talked about how austerity is affecting women in West Dunbartonshire and how politicians have promised anti-austerity policies to get into power but then don’t deliver.”

They didn’t go ahead with the march because it was too cold, but Lynda was interviewed by McGarvey so she’s hoping that she will appear in the BBC documentary.

Lynda added: “We need a real system change to tackle the systemic sexism in society. It has to be a working-class movement with everyone of all ages and sexualities involved.

“The event motivated people so it was very worthwhile.”