The largest protest against rape and sexual violence, the Rhodes University Silent Protest has grown from 80 ‘volunteers’ in 2006 to over 1700 participants. The protest aims to draw attention to and challenge the culture of silence around sexual violence in South Africa. It is estimated that merely 1 in 25 rape cases are reported in South Africa, a harsh figure when one considers the fact that roughly 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men will experience some form of sexual harassment.
The Silent Protest is second only to Intervarsity in its size and is the largest protest against gender-based violence in the country. The Silent Protest allows people to break their silence, it raises public awareness and offers a space where protestors can show support and stand in solidarity with all survivors of sexual violence.
Protestors start the day at 6am where they are silenced by having their mouths taped with black tape. This action aims to make visible the silence of those affected by sexual violence. From there the protestors march to the Rhodes University Admin building then disband until the ‘Die In’ later that same afternoon. The ‘Die In’ involves protestors laying down in silence over lunch time and acts as a form of visual representation of the lives devastated by gender-based violence. The day culminates with the ‘Take Back the Night’ march.
The events are designed to encourage others to consider the realities of sexual violence. While the event has been predominantly orientated within the University, this year organisers encouraged participation from the broader Grahamstown community as rape and sexual violence are problems which affect everyone.
For more information about the Silent Protest, see https://www.ru.ac.za/silentprotest/about/
The Silent Protest is second only to Intervarsity in its size and is the largest protest against gender-based violence in the country. The Silent Protest allows people to break their silence, it raises public awareness and offers a space where protestors can show support and stand in solidarity with all survivors of sexual violence.
Protestors start the day at 6am where they are silenced by having their mouths taped with black tape. This action aims to make visible the silence of those affected by sexual violence. From there the protestors march to the Rhodes University Admin building then disband until the ‘Die In’ later that same afternoon. The ‘Die In’ involves protestors laying down in silence over lunch time and acts as a form of visual representation of the lives devastated by gender-based violence. The day culminates with the ‘Take Back the Night’ march.
The events are designed to encourage others to consider the realities of sexual violence. While the event has been predominantly orientated within the University, this year organisers encouraged participation from the broader Grahamstown community as rape and sexual violence are problems which affect everyone.
For more information about the Silent Protest, see https://www.ru.ac.za/silentprotest/about/