From Reclaim These Streets:
Reclaim These Streets is organised by a group of women who wanted to channel the collective grief, outrage and sadness in our community over the events of the past week. Our plan was to hold a short gathering on Clapham Common, centred around a minute of silence to remember Sarah Everard and all women lost to violence. In light of the lack of constructive engagement from the Metropolitan Police, we were forced to cancel this event.
We appreciate the outpouring of support over the past 48 hours, and we are clear that women’s voices will not be silenced, now or ever.
We were told that pressing ahead could risk a £10,000 fine each for each woman organising. Even if we came to this amazing community for help in meeting those costs, we think that this would be a poor use of our and your money. We do not want to see hundreds of thousands of pounds contributed to a system that consistently fails to keep women safe – either in public spaces or in the privacy of their homes. Women’s rights are too important.
Instead, we are setting up a fundraiser to raise the money we would have been liable for in fines to donate to supporting women’s causes around the country instead. We will also be donating the remaining funds of our legal costs crowdfunder to this charitable fund. Our goal is £320,000 which is £10,000 for each location where vigils were expected to go ahead.
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/reclaimthesestreets
Statement from Met Police following cancelation of Sarah Everard vigil in Clapham Common
Commander Catherine Roper, the Met’s lead for Community Engagement, said:
“I would like to thank the organisers of tonight’s vigil in Clapham Common for cancelling the gathering. Since Sarah’s disappearance, we have shared Londoners anguish, shock and sadness at the truly awful circumstances of her disappearance and death.
“I know that yesterday’s ruling would have been unwelcome news for the organisers and to those who were hoping to join others in tribute to Sarah and to make a stand on violence against women.
“While it is clear we cannot do this together on Clapham Common, I know there are various others ways to mourn Sarah in a safe way.
“We take no joy in this event being cancelled, but it is the right thing to do given the real and present threat of Covid-19. Throughout the week we have had a number of talks with the organisers of the vigil. These talks have undoubtedly been challenging and officers have worked hard to explain the regulations and why gatherings such as this cannot go ahead at this time.
“While we understand their frustrations of this cancellation and share the nation’s outrage at this crime, we must all continue to work together to fight Covid-19 and keep each other safe.
“Throughout the day we will have officers on patrol throughout the capital. We are there to keep people safe and will be highly visible and supporting our communities.”
