Union of Students in Ireland and ROSA Socialist Feminist groups joined together on Valentine’s Day demanding an end to gender-based violence.
Despite cold and rainy conditions,at 1 p.m. approximately fifteen women dressed in black gathered in front of the Molly Malone statue on Suffolk Street to place red flowers into the statue’s basket. The protest was inspired by the Dark Valentine protests against femicide that took place in Kenya last year.
ROSA is a pro-choice, socialist-feminist group that works to build a community against all gender oppression, racial oppression, exploitation, and capitalism.
Member of ROSA and University of Galway student Giselle Elayne, told The University Times that the broader goals of ROSA are to bring feminism to the front of the socialist movement.
“The goal today is to remind people that on holidays, and especially Valentine’s Day, women suffer from gender-based violence at an increased level.” Elayne explained that “The point of ROSA is […] we care about women and trans people and we’re not gonna let that go to the background.”
Elayne added that on Valentine’s day people can get caught up in the flowers, candy, and displays of love but that the day is also a time to remind people of the violence that women suffer year-round.
The women stood in front of the Molly Malone statue to bring attention to what they see is inappropriate touching enacted by passersby on the statue. Molly Malone is a figure from Irish folklore and has become a popular tourist spot in Dublin where participants rub her front for good luck, leaving a discoloured stain on the chest.
“She’s an inanimate object, but the amount of violation done on her, it’s insane, and it’s kind of sick, especially in a country like Ireland” says University College Dublin student, Mahamuda Aktar (Monisha).
Aktar has been a part of feminist organizing for the past six years in Bangladesh and has since become involved in activism in Dublin.
“Coming from a place like Bangladesh, I thought things in the West, things in countries like Ireland, were better. But when I went to the ROSA meeting, I realized it’s not. There are a lot of lapses and gaps in the law”, says Aktar.
The protestors spoke about their upcoming events such as their protest on International Women’s Day and an upcoming day of action.
Elayne ended the action by stating the need for women-centered activism and the importance of change around the world.
“When women’s rights are being taken away, just saying that your body is your own is such a radical statement. So I think that’s like a big part of why we’re here”.
Last month, The Journal reported that 37 women were killed in Ireland over the last five years. The outlet found that the majority of the suspects were known to the women.
