Hundreds march through Melbourne CBD calling for an end to violence against women epidemic

ABC NEWS (Australia)

There were emotional scenes in Melbourne’s CBD today as protesters mourned the deaths of Australian women killed in acts of violence.  Hundreds marched through the city to the steps of Victorian parliament demanding greater action.

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00:00Grief, tears and anger on the steps of Victorian Parliament.

00:06Stop killing us!

00:08One, two, three, four, we won't take it anymore!

00:12Today hundreds took to Melbourne's streets and across the country to mourn the women and children killed in acts of violence in the last year.

00:19Every time I hear a woman dying it just, it's the least I can do by being here.

00:25Women are being killed at an alarming rate and no one in government seems to care.

00:31The rally started at the State Library before protesters marched through the CBD to Parliament.

00:36In the crowd, Boyd Unwin, whose daughter Katie was murdered by her partner in 2018.

00:42The government's not doing enough, the systems aren't doing enough, the justice system isn't doing enough.

00:47Some protesters demanded tougher penalties for perpetrators of family violence.

00:52No second, third, fourth chances.

00:54Others want better education of first responders and for men to step up.

00:58There are men here too who want this violence to stop.

01:01Say it once, say it again, there's no issues for violent men!

01:05A memorial in nearby Hosier Lane honouring more than 100 women killed was defaced just last week with the words,

01:12War on Men.

01:13The women's names were read out today one by one in a haunting tribute.

01:18Samantha Murphy, 51, Ballarat, Victoria.

01:22Protesters here today say they're frustrated and fed up.

01:25Organisers say 24 Australian women have already been killed this year and that enough is enough.

01:31We are tired, we're exhausted, we're traumatised.

01:34And as dusk fell on Mother's Day Eve, a candlelight vigil was held at the memorial to remember those lost.

01:41We are stressed at the memorial basically now, we find no

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