An organiser of the London vigil for Sarah Everard has said that while the group is “devastated” that in-person events had to be cancelled, it hopes that virtual gatherings and at-home vigils will have an even wider impact.
The London vigil for Everard, the 33-year-old woman whose body was formally identified on Friday, more than a week after she disappeared in south London, has been cancelled, with organisers citing a “lack of constructive engagement from the Metropolitan police”.
Vigils under the banner of a growing movement, Reclaim These Streets, were due to take place in Clapham Common, close to where Everard went missing, and across a further 31 locations in the UK.
As police urge people not to gather over concerns about the spread of coronavirus, a series of events are cropping up across the UK to remember Everard and call for an end to violence against women and girls.
Reclaim These Streets is calling on people across the UK to stand on their doorstep holding a candle or light on Saturday night at 9.30pm, the time when Everard is thought to have gone missing. The organisers are also due to host a virtual vigil on Zoom earlier in the evening, with details yet to be announced.
Caitlin Prowle, one of the organisers of Reclaim These Streets, said that while the cancellation of the in-person vigil was “heartbreaking”, the movement was only growing.
“This was always about a bigger message, and to give women somewhere to express our anger and grief and sadness, and I don’t think that’s changed. If anything it’s grown,” she said.
“Everyone across the country will be able to participate, not just those who can get to Clapham. I’m gutted it couldn’t go ahead, but I really think we can reach more people.”
A vigil planned in Edinburgh has also been switched to an online event, with organisers hosting a stream of online speakers and “doorstep vigil” activities.
“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,” Chloe Whyte, who organised the Edinburgh vigil, told BBC Radio 5 Live on Saturday morning. “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.”
In Glasgow, organisers have decided to hold vigils in four locations : George Square, the Mary Barbour statue in Govan, Kelvingrove park and Queens park.
In order to keep in line with current restrictions, they are asking women to tie ribbons or leave messages of solidarity throughout the day and volunteers will be present between 6pm and 8pm to collect them. On Friday, Police Scotland urged the public to follow coronavirus regulations and Scotland’s health secretary, Jeane Freeman, asked women not to gather in public, but to take part in online events.
Organisers have also stressed that when attending these locations, the guidelines around 2-metre social distancing and mask wearing must be complied with.
Organiser Jenn Nimmo-Smith explained: “We understand that this is something that not everyone will be comfortable with, so the event is still also going on from your homes. This will involve lighting a candle for Sarah and displaying it in your window or doorway. While we appreciate that this may not feel like the most impactful form of support, we need to be both realistic and sensible in what we are doing at the moment.”
The organisers said they had chosen George Square “to reclaim a space that was built for everyone”. Last weekend, crowds of football fans celebrating a championship win congregated there in breach of Covid rules, to widespread condemnation. “During this time is it important to understand the historic connection surrounding Scottish football and domestic violence against women,” they said.
The human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, who has been advising the Glasgow organisers, told the Guardian: “The Police Scotland approach will be one of proportionality, and Covid legislation cannot prevent all protest. These events can go ahead if acting within the regulations. It is quite right that authorities are challenged as to why football fans can march through Glasgow but women can’t protest about violence and harassment.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester police urged people not to gather in person, but said the force was “shocked and saddened” by Everard’s death and expressed support for online vigils.
“We understand there are a number of online events as well as a doorstep vigil that have been arranged for this evening and GMP absolutely supports these and encourages our communities to join them.”
In Belfast, Reclaim The Night are hosting an online vigil at 6pm to “remember Sarah and all victims of gender-based violence” and are asking those who cannot attend to light a candle at the same time.