© carlo coppejans
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Six hundred people marched loudly in Ghent from the Vrijdagmarkt to the city hall on Sunday evening to raise the issue of sexual violence in nightlife. In an open letter signed by forty managers of Ghent cafés, they asked the city council to take action together.
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Simon Dekaezemaker
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Loudly about six hundred people present on Sunday evening shouted slogans such as “No is no, no is no”, “We believe you” and “No, you are not alone”. The demonstrators wanted to raise the issue of sexual violence and intimidation. On the Vrijdagmarkt, several victims first shared their testimony and then marched in groups to the town hall.
“Since the reopening of nightlife, we have noticed a significant increase in transgressive behavior,” the activists explained. Last weekend the story came out of an 18-year-old woman who reported a rape in an Overpoort café. In an open letter, which was signed by about forty managers of Ghent cafés, they ask for action together.
–© carlo coppejans
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“Every fact is one too many”
“We want a nightlife where everyone can dance freely, where we respect each other’s boundaries and where toxic behavior and assault are not tolerated,” the letter said. “We want to lower the threshold for filing a report. We demand that as an independent organization meldet.org is given the support to guide victims. We demand change and now immediately.”
Acting mayor Filip Watteeuw (Green) received the letter from the city hall. “In Ghent you should be able to enjoy the nightlife safely. Our services therefore take the signals we receive very seriously. Every fact is one too many. We accept the outstretched hand. We will sit together and work together to see what new measures and actions are needed.”
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