Doncaster: Vigil for murdered women

Vigil for murdered women in Doncaster 22 July, photo SP (Click to enlarge)

Women and men attended a vigil in Doncaster on 22 July organised by the Women's Lives Matter campaign, after the alleged murder of five women from the town in the last two months. Eight have died across South Yorkshire.

Domestic violence and abuse has got even worse during lockdown.

Women's Lives Matter has been contacted by a lot of press - asking why Doncaster? Why have there been so many murders of women in Doncaster?

To us it's fairly simple. It's what happens when you have a community ravaged by cuts.

Doncaster doesn't have a Citizens Advice Bureau. The Women's Aid got cut. The only solicitor that offered 'first 30 minutes free' consultations stopped.

Women going through the family court with a perpetrator have to travel to Sheffield, because Doncaster family court was closed. It's a forgotten-about northern town wracked with poverty and with little services.

Poverty equals women being trapped in abuse.

Amy Cousens, Women's Lives Matter

Donate to the Socialist Party

Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.