Gemma Aitchison and clare Schilizzi from the group Yes Matters UK organised a demonstration #ENOUGH outside Parliament in Westminster, designed to draw attention to the issues of sexual objectification and violence against women and girls. The group name refers specifically to the issue of consent, but relates to the matter of the objectification of females in general.
Gemma founded the group after her 16-year sister, Sasha, was sexually defiled and murdered in Blackpool, in 2013. She recalls that during his trial her sister’s killer, David Minto, constantly referred to his victim as ‘it’. This horrific case was an extreme example of sexual objectification, but Gemma realised that milder forms were commonly experienced by women and girls.
Later the same year Gemma was invited to attend ‘Prime Minister’s Questions’ and had the opportunity to to talk to Labour Leader Ed Millband. ”I told him off”, said Gemma, matter-of-factly. ”He had written an article in which he referred to the effect of pornography on his boys but there was no mention of the effect on girls”.
Clare first met Gemma via Facebook. Sexually abused as a child and raped at 21, Clare suffered from recurrent bouts of depression as a consequence. She wanted to do something to help others with similar experiences – and Gemma told her about Yes Matters.”The group was exactly the sort of thing I wanted to get involved in’ said Clare.
Yes Matters has become associated with a number of other organisations, with the aim of unifying and increasing the voices of all these groups, which have similar messages and goals. These groups include Manchester Rape Crisis, WiN, Bring back Our Girls, 50:50, End the Fear and No More Page 3. Prior to the 15th April, Gemma sent out a message to other groups including these words: ”I propose a mass march on Parliament on April 15th (just Parliament Square as a symbol of holding those who are supposed to represent the public being held to account). Choosing this date because it’s close enough to the elections to make them pretend to care and is also the first anniversary of Bring Back Our Girls.
This will only work if we get as much media attention as possible and as much involvement as possible. I am humbly asking for your support and involvement in this. We need to stand and stand together or this will not work; we might not be listened to.” The demonstration attracted a large number of attendees as well as support from passers-by, with the hashtag #Enough being the underlying message and unifying theme.