Swedish comedian organizes 'man-free' rock festival in response to rape reports
A Swedish comedian is organizing a "man-free" rock festival in response to the reported rapes and sexual assaults at music festivals in the country in recent years.
Emma Knyckare's idea started with a simple tweet she posted after it emerged that there had been a number of sexual offences reported at the 2017 Bråvalla festival in Norrköping.
"What do you think about putting together a really cool festival where only non-men are welcome, that we'll run until ALL men have learned how to behave themselves?" she wrote.
Vad tror ni om att vi styr ihop en asfet festival dit bara icke män är välkomna som vi kör tills ALLA män har lärt sig hur en beter sig?
— Emma Knyckare (@Knyckare) July 2, 2017
READ ALSO: Why Sweden is not the 'rape capital of the world'
Though some weren't thrilled with the idea, others started to respond with words of support. Medical workers, PR people, project managers and musicians got in touch to offer their services, and soon, enough people had registered interest for the comedian to start thinking seriously about making the festival happen.
A day after her initial tweet, Knyckare confirmed that plans were in place for an event in 2018:
"Sweden's first man-free rock festival will see the light next summer. In the coming days I'll bring together a solid group of talented organizers and project leaders to form the festival organizers, then you'll hear from everyone again when it's time to move forward."
Last weekend, Bråvalla's organizers announced that the festival will not take place next year following the reported rapes and sex offences during the June edition. The same festival was previously hit by reported sexual assaults and rapes in 2016.
READ ALSO: Swedish music festival cancels next year's event amid rape reports
The We Are STHLM youth festival meanwhile was the subject of sexual assault allegations in 2014 and 2015, leading to criticism of police for failing to release information about the matter.
READ ALSO: Swedish politician 'sexually molested' at Almedalen festival
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Emma Knyckare's idea started with a simple tweet she posted after it emerged that there had been a number of sexual offences reported at the 2017 Bråvalla festival in Norrköping.
"What do you think about putting together a really cool festival where only non-men are welcome, that we'll run until ALL men have learned how to behave themselves?" she wrote.
Vad tror ni om att vi styr ihop en asfet festival dit bara icke män är välkomna som vi kör tills ALLA män har lärt sig hur en beter sig?
— Emma Knyckare (@Knyckare) July 2, 2017
READ ALSO: Why Sweden is not the 'rape capital of the world'
Though some weren't thrilled with the idea, others started to respond with words of support. Medical workers, PR people, project managers and musicians got in touch to offer their services, and soon, enough people had registered interest for the comedian to start thinking seriously about making the festival happen.
A day after her initial tweet, Knyckare confirmed that plans were in place for an event in 2018:
"Sweden's first man-free rock festival will see the light next summer. In the coming days I'll bring together a solid group of talented organizers and project leaders to form the festival organizers, then you'll hear from everyone again when it's time to move forward."
Last weekend, Bråvalla's organizers announced that the festival will not take place next year following the reported rapes and sex offences during the June edition. The same festival was previously hit by reported sexual assaults and rapes in 2016.
READ ALSO: Swedish music festival cancels next year's event amid rape reports
The We Are STHLM youth festival meanwhile was the subject of sexual assault allegations in 2014 and 2015, leading to criticism of police for failing to release information about the matter.
READ ALSO: Swedish politician 'sexually molested' at Almedalen festival
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