MANY locals supported the anti-xenophobia and gender-based violence march organised by the youngsters from Emancipate Africa.
The protest began a little after noon with the girls from Emancipate Africa, Alexa Redd, Mal Radebe, Nonhlanhla Khanyile, Sindi Angelos, Tamryn Edwards and Bianca leading the way from the Engen garage on Old Main Road to Mr Price Home a little over a kilometre away.
Struggle songs as well as the national anthem were sung in what was a remarkable effort by the young organisers.
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This peaceful protest featured people of all ages, genders and races with defiant placards that read: “I don’t want to die with my hands up, and my legs open” and “Africans can’t be foreign in Africa” among others.
The march was well supported by the local SAPS, the general public and restaurant patrons who hooted and waved to show their approval.
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The organisers of the march also sold T-shirts in black, red and white with meaningful messages such as: “Women don’t owe you sh*t”, a term which was made popular by the late Uyinene Mtrwetyana, who’s brutal murder, along with others sparked mass outrage with the South African public. The proceeds are being donated to the Bobbi Bear Foundation.
A member of the Emancipate Africa team, Alexa Redd, shared her thoughts on the march: “I think the turn-out was great, considering how small Hillcrest is and how closed off we are from everything else.” Redd also explained how the idea to plan a peaceful protest in Hillcrest came about: “Well we all know about all the sexaul assaults that have been happening and I was lying in bed the one night after hearing about the five-year-old who went missing and I thought how ridiculous things were getting and I messaged the girls and said to them, ”we should have a protest in Hillcrest because nothing ever really happens here.”
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