March for Women: Protesters descend on London to highlight fight for gender equality

Activists have descended on central London to highlight the fight for gender equality ahead of International Women's Day.

March4Women demonstrators armed with banners and placards marched through the city’s streets chanting: “March together. Together we’re bolder, together we’re stronger.”

Wearing sashes with the suffragettes' famous slogan "deeds not words", supporters gathered outside the Houses of Parliament before setting off on the historic route to Trafalgar Square.

Banners reading "Bloody difficult woman", "Courage is a muscle" and "Men of quality do not fear equality" were held aloft during the march on Sunday.

The rally, which kicked off at Millbank's Old Palace Yard at midday, coincided with the 100th anniversary of the first women being given the right to vote.

March4Women: Mayor of London Sadiq Kahn and Bianca Jagger led marchers during Sunday's demonstration
PA

The demonstration was led by the likes of prominent women’s rights activist Helen Pankhurst and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who vowed to make the capital “the best city in the world to be a woman”.

Speaking at the march, Mr Khan highlighted the importance of campaigning and marches to push for change, but said employers must do more if equality is to be achieved.

He said: “We’ve got to make sure that we get more women in boardrooms… more women in positions of power and influence.

“The reason that they’re not there is not because they are not talented, not ambitious, it’s because of the discrimination that exists. We’ve got to make sure that we get rid of it.”

He added: “Marches have their place, one of the reasons suffragettes and suffragists got the vote 100 years ago is because of marching and demonstrating and rallies, but that by itself is not enough. Employers, me included, have got to take action.”

Ms Pankhurst, the great-granddaughter of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, said "right across the board in every sphere there's work to be done" to ensure gender equality.

She said: "I think we are living in a world where there are some dinosaurs that are trying to take us back.

March4Women demonstrators in Trafalgar Square
PA

"And there are those that are moving together, trying to say 'that's not the way we want this world to look', and moving us forward, and looking at issues around inequality and naming prejudice and all sorts of forms of entitlement, that just shouldn't be part of the scene of the 21st century."

She said right now there was a "great energy" and that "day after day after day there's a media story saying we are not going to tolerate this anymore".

Asked about US President Donald Trump's recent admission that he does not consider himself a feminist, she said: "It's irrelevant. I think what we need to be focusing on is the number of men and women who are supportive of change and of equality and all the beautiful and wonderful things that happen.

"And we need to fight against people like him who represent old ideas, dated ideas, ideas that actually put people into boxes and don't allow people to thrive. Why should we allow that?"

Politicians from all parties stood shoulder to shoulder at the front of the march, united in their conviction for women's rights to be realised in 2018.

Mr Khan added that a 50 per cent gender balance should be a floor to aim towards, not a ceiling. Wearing a "deeds not words" sash, addressing the crowds he said: "I'm a feminist, I'm a proud feminist.

"I think if you're in a position of power and influence and you think it's wrong that women get paid less than men, you think it's wrong there's discrimination against women still, you think it's wrong that simply by virtue of being born a boy you have more chances than a girl - you should be a feminist.

"And I can't understand why anybody wouldn't want to be a proud feminist."

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