Sisters Shine A Light On Holloway

North London Sisters Uncut are shining a light on Holloway Prison to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls.

We are holding a vigil to draw attention to the state violence women and non-binary people experienced inside Holloway and continue to experience in prisons throughout the UK.

On the night we will be hosting guest speakers and screening a short film. There will also be soup, music and lots of pretty lights.

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At least 46% of women in prisons are domestic violence survivors and 53% report experiencing abuse in childhood. Trans and non-binary inmates are not included in these statistics at all.

So many women and non-binary people who are imprisoned need care, but are instead locked up, punished and denied the help they need.

This is what happened to Sarah Reed, a working-class black woman with severe mental health issues, who died in Holloway Prison in 2016.

While imprisoned at Holloway, Sarah was not given the correct medication, had visits from her family and solicitors cancelled and was isolated in a freezing cold unit for “bad behaviour.” This gives us a snapshot into some of the treatment vulnerable inmates have been subjected to inside Holloway.

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Join us as we remember the violence inflicted upon Sarah and the current and former inmates of prisons across the UK.

Our presence will also keep up the pressure in our campaign to turn the former Visitor's Centre into a women's building*, hosting domestic violence and therapeutic services for all female, trans and non-binary survivors.

If you can, please bring battery-operated fairy lights, torches, or anything that will help us shine a light on Holloway!

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Gender Inclusion Policy:
We aim to create safe spaces for women and non-binary people. However, if you feel that you have a connection to the past and future of the Holloway site, then you are welcome to join our vigil, regardless of your gender identity. While our normal gender inclusion policy does not apply to this event, we will still commit to our safer spaces policy and we ask that you do too.

* The Reclaim Holloway coalition are campaigning for a Women's Building on the site, which will be owned by the people that run it. It needs to be long-term, independent, and inclusive of trans women, and those who are non-binary or don't identify with a gender.

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Access:

Tube: Holloway Road, Finsbury Park and Tufnell Park.
Bus: 29/253
Parking: There is parking available with a number of reserved disabled parking spaces.

*The site itself is a flat concreted area but there is a pathway around the edge of the site that is a bit bumpy.
*Motorised wheelchairs should have no problem but it may be more difficult for those in non motorised wheelchairs.
*Please be aware that it is next to a busy road and therefore may be noisy.

Access Sisters will be on hand on the day.