A planned march in Birmingham is cancelled after organisers claim they were unable to secure ‘correspondence and approval’. The UK Women’s March was scheduled to take place on January 18, the same day a number of marches will take place across the country.
The nationwide march has been organised as part of a demonstration to raise awareness for women’s rights. Taking place two days before Donald Trump’s inauguration, the march is a protest against violence against women and anti-abortion.
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The UK Women’s March listed several other reasons for the event including discrimination against trans women and the quality of women’s rights in Afghanistan and Iran. However, the planned march will not go ahead in Birmingham after organisers claimed they couldn’t secure approval.
After announcing the cancellation, UK Women’s March said they were ‘unable to secure correspondence or approval’ from Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police. However, protests and demonstrations do not need permission from the council to take place.
West Midlands Police does not have the legal power to grant demonstration permissions either.
In a statement, UK Women’s March said: “It is with deep regret that we announce the cancellation of the Birmingham Women’s March. Despite extensive effort and planning, we have been unable to secure correspondence or approval from the council or police.
“The local team working in this event have given so much time, effort and passion to the event on top of their own commitments. This was an incredibly difficult decision, and we recognise the disappointment this may cause.
“Significant time and effort were invested to the organising of the UK Women’s March in Birmingham. However, with no approval or communication from relevant authorities, on this occasion, it will not be relevant to proceed.
“We kindly ask that this decision is respected, as it has been made with the best interests of participants and the wider community in mind. We remain committed to ensuring Birmingham plays a key role in future UK Women’s March events, and we look forward to standing together in solidarity once again.”
Although the Birmingham march has been cancelled, the UK will still host a number of planned marches on January 18, including in London and Edinburgh. In the Midlands, the UK Women’s March is scheduled to take place in cities such as Northampton, Nottingham and Lincoln.
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: “Police do not have the legal power to give permission for demonstrations or processions to take place. Organisers of processions are required to notify police of their plans.
“We did not have a formal approach from the organisers of this event.”