Wielding placards and chanting "enough is enough", hundreds gathered to call for an end to gendered violence at Jellybean Park in Nowra on Monday, March 15.
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Organised by local activist Bonnie Cassen and the Amnesty International Bay and Basin Group, the local rally was part of a larger national movement.
What started as a tweet from academic and mother Janine Hendry, spruiked the March 4 Justice rallies, that saw tens of thousands of women gather across the country as a response to allegations of sexual assault against members of Federal Parliament.
"4000 women - that's what it will take to circle parliament house on March 15 and to make it clear to this Govt. that we have had enough," the tweet read.
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Speakers took to the microphone to call for change, share statistics and tell their personal experiences of sexual violence.
Independent Councillor Nina Digligio shared her personal account.
"Coming from a migrant background, it was quite challenging because the misogyny was very very strong," she said.
"I saw my mother being abused and I thought it was normal. There was an event when I was seven where I saw my dad hit my mum. All of these thoughts about who I am in the world were that men are stronger.
"It fragmented our whole family. The violence, the abuse, the silence were just all a part of what I thought was normal."
An aspiring politician, Ulladulla High School student Takesa Frank took to the microphone to pledge to "change the culture in politics."
"Over the last few weeks, we have seen men hide behind their crimes," she said.
"Women are scared to enter politics for just this reason. Women who could change the future and become our next Prime Minister are choosing different careers because of the misogyny in parliament.
"I, alongside many other young women, want to change the culture in politics."
Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley attended the protest, extending her support to women in the community.
"I'm here to support all of the women who are making the call today that enough is enough, and that we have to have an ability to be able to turn up at work and know that we're safe," she said.
"It's amazing, this rally was thought of only seven days ago and there are 200 to 300 women here. It shows people want to have their voices heard."
Mayor Findley called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to take "action" for the sexual assault allegations at federal parliament, and also said behaviour at the Shoalhaven City Council needs to change.
"We want our Prime Minister to take some definitive action for the issues that are boiling away at parliament house," she said.
"Even here at the Shoalhaven, I'd like my workplace to be safe and I'd like anyone who is aspiring to be in that workplace, to feel like that's somewhere they can aspire to be.
"I've been in politics now for 13 years at the Shoalhaven City Council and I've seen and experienced some very terrible behaviour over the years. Some people think it's a game or funny, and some people go about it and do it purposefully. They need to get a grip on themselves and just stop."
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