“This is a vigil for Sarah, but also for all women who feel unsafe, who go missing from our streets and who face violence every day.”
A vigil to reclaim the streets for women’s safety has been planned in the wake of Sarah Everard’s disappearance.
The 33 year-old woman went missing after leaving a friend’s home after 9pm on 3 March.
A London Metropolitan Police officer has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He is being held in police custody. Yesterday, human remains were found in Kent during the search for the missing woman. However, authorities have said that it is too early to confirm the identity.
In the wake of Sarah’s disappearance, a vigil has been organised in her honour. It will take place at Clapham Common Bandstand this Saturday evening at 6pm.
The event organisers said: “It’s wrong that the response to violence against women requires women to behave differently. In Clapham, police told women not to go out at night this week. Women are not the problem.”
They continued: “This is a vigil for Sarah, but also for all women who feel unsafe, who go missing from our streets and who face violence every day.”
Throughout the week, many women have been sharing their safety concerns and experiences with violence on social media.
Comedian Caitlin Moran took to Twitter to explain how safety concerns shape her day: “Being a woman: my “outside” day finishes at sundown. If I haven’t taken the dog for a walk/jogged by then, I can’t. In the winter, it often means the choice between exercise and work. Today, I had to stop work at 4 to exercise. My husband worked until 6, and is now off for a run.”
Being a woman: my "outside" day finishes at sundown. If I haven't taken the dog for a walk/jogged by then, I can't. In the winter, it often means the choice between exercise and work. Today, I had to stop work at 4 to exercise. My husband worked until 6, and is now off for a run.
— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) March 10, 2021
Kate McCann, Sky News’ political correspondent wrote: “What happened to Sarah Everard has hit home hard for so many women because we make the calculations she did every day too. We take the longer, better-lit route, push the fear aside for the voice that says ‘don’t be daft, you’ve every right to walk home alone at night and be safe’.”
What happened to Sarah Everard has hit home hard for so many women because we make the calculations she did every day too. We take the longer, better-lit route, push the fear aside for the voice that says ‘don't be daft, you've every right to walk home alone at night and be safe’
— Kate McCann (@KateEMcCann) March 10, 2021
The Reclaim The Streets Vigil will take place this Saturday at 6pm in Clapham.
