ShutItAllDown

ShutItAllDown is a wave of ongoing Gender Based Violence protests across Namibia aimed at stopping the spread of rape and killing of women. The protests which began on 6 October followed the killing of 22 year old Shannon Wasserfall whose remains were reportedly found buried in a shallow grave near Walvis Bay, 6 months after she went missing.[1][2][3][4]

Protesters make a sin-in in a Windhoek street on 10 October 2020.
ShutItAllDown
Protesters block a Windhoek City Centre intersection on 8 October 2020
Date7 October 2020 - ongoing
Location
Windhoek, Swakopmund, mainly Namibia
Caused byThe killing of Shanoon Wasserfall, Rape and women abuse
GoalsTo stop rape, killing of women in Namibia
MethodsProtests, Demonstrations
StatusOngoing
Casualties
Arrested25
Charged24

Background

On 10 April 2020, 21 year old Shannon Wasserfall went missing in the coastal town of Walvis Bay. Following her disappearance, communities rallied together using social media in search of her. After 6 months of her disappearance, her father received an announymous text message informing him that his daughter was buried in a grave kilometres away from the town. He later informed the Namibia Police who went to dig out the remains. Two days later, one woman and her boyfriend were arrested in connection to Wasserfall's murder. [5][6]

Public reactions

Following the revelations of the discovery of a grave, massive protests from young Namibians rang out demanding an end to rape and the killing of women in the country. Young people used the hashtag #ShutItAllDown to mobilise themselves on social media platform Twitter and took to the streets to denounce Gender Based Violence.[7]

Protests and police brutality

The events of Wasserfall's killing lead to nationwide protests. During the protests, the Namibia police began to counter the protesters arresting 25 youths including 3 journalists who were covering the events.[8]

Young woman yells at a Police officer outside Parliament.

This followed an almost violent confrontation between protesters and the police alongside the Sam Nujoma Drive in the Windhoek City Centre. The arrested protesters took to social media to decry police treatment. They were later charged and released. On Monday 12 October they appeared before the Windhoek Margistrates Court where several protesters joined them to continue the protests.[9]

women cries while calling for an end to Gender Based Violence outside Parliament.

References
  1. "Police Use Tear Gas To Disperse Gender-Based Violence Protests". essence.com.
  2. "Dozens arrested in Namibia's anti-femicide protests". trtworld.com.
  3. "| Namibia: Police Disperse Gender-Based Violence Protest". Africanews.
  4. "Namibian anti-femicide protesters met with teargas". The Citizen.
  5. https://www.nbc.na/news/woman-accused-shannon-wasserfall-case-denied-bail.36544 | Woman accused in Shannon Wasserfall case denied bail | | NBC
  6. https://www.namibtimes.net/remains-of-missing-girl-found-at-narraville-missing-persons-case-of-shannon-wasserfall-turns-into-murder-inquiry/ Remains of missing girl found at Narraville – Missing person’s case of Shannon Wasserfall turns into murder inquiry | Namib Times
  7. https://www.namibian.com.na/95436/read/Devastated-community-marches-for-Shannon-Wasserfall | Devastated community marches for Shannon Wasserfall - The Namibian
  8. https://www.nbc.na/news/police-arrest-journalists-and-protestors-windhoek.36565 | Police arrests Journalists and protestors in Windhoek | | NBC
  9. https://www.namibian.com.na/95528/read/Anti-GBV-protests-draw-international-concern | Anti-GBV protests draw international concern - The Namibian
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