Sarah Everard vigil organiser says movement will ‘only grow bigger’

Chloe Whyte said Reclaim These Streets would hold in-person events as soon as it was safe to do so.
Sarah Everard death
PA Wire
Neil Pooran13 March 2021

The organiser of an online vigil for Sarah Everard hopes to hold an in-person event as soon as it is safe to do so, saying the Reclaim These Streets movement will “only grow bigger and bigger”.

In-person vigils planned for Saturday evening were cancelled and moved online following a decision by a High Court judge in London

Events had been planned across the UK, including in Edinburgh and Glasgow to pay tribute to Ms Everard, who disappeared while walking home in London and whose remains were found this week.

On Friday, Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman suggested women should find another way to pay tribute to the 33-year-old, warning any vigil in a public place would go against coronavirus restrictions.

Sarah Everard death
PA Wire

Chloe Whyte, who organised the Edinburgh vigil, spoke to the BBC’s Radio 5 Live show on Saturday morning.

She said organisers did not want to be responsible for women who attended in-person vigils potentially being fined for breaking lockdown rules.

Ms Whyte said: “This is only getting bigger and bigger, regardless of what the police or the law have to say about our vigils, women will not be silenced.

“We will be taking to the streets as soon as it is legal and safe to do so.

“In the meantime, the campaigns online are only growing.”

She continued: “What would come from this conversation is beginning to dismantle a system that I say would enable people in power and people who hold positions over women to abuse that, to make us feel vulnerable and unsafe on the streets.

“I think that so many folks can relate to Sarah Everard’s story but there’s unheard voices out there who probably will never be able to tell their stories in the media because it just doesn’t fit the narrative that’s going on in the UK.”

Sarah Everard missing
PA Wire

Late on Friday night, Ms Whyte posted on Facebook that there would instead be a stream of online speakers and “doorstep vigil” activities.

She said: “The tragic story of Sarah Everard and the national outpouring it has provoked has shone a light on just how many women have been made to feel unsafe on our streets due to sexual harassment and violence. This is a moment of reflection, but also one of action.

“Please do NOT go to Holyrood or St Andrew’s Square tomorrow, as sadly any gatherings there will be dispersed by police.”

A number of people attended at Holyrood to lay flowers and candles.

Among placards placed outside the building were ones reading “end femicide” and others calling for feminist legislation.

Sarah Everard death
PA Wire

In Glasgow, Reclaim These Streets organisers asked people to tie ribbons and leave notes at four locations in the city in show of solidarity – George Square, Kelvingrove Park, Queen’s Park and the Mary Barbour statue in Govan.

Posting on Facebook, they urged people not to remain at the sites, but return home safely and plan to collect the notes later and “collate these into a manifesto for change”.

Earlier, a High Court judge in London refused to intervene on behalf of the Reclaim These Streets group in a legal challenge over the right to gather for a protest during coronavirus restrictions.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in