A Walthamstow vigil has been organised for women who feel unsafe walking the streets – but it is unclear whether police will allow the event to go forward.
The Reclaim These Streets vigil in Walthamstow has been organised following the disappearance of Sarah Everard, 33, last seen in in Clapham on March 3.
Detectives investigating the case have arrested a serving Met Police officer on suspicion of murder after finding human remains in a woodland in Kent.
Organisers of the Reclaim These Streets vigil planned for Saturday evening on Clapham Common claim the police say it cannot go ahead because of pandemic lockdown restrictions, and are preparing to go to the High Court over their right to gather.
Your Local Guardian has contacted the Met Police to ascertain whether the Walthamstow protests has been given similar instruction.
Flowers from members of the public left near Great Chart Golf and Leisure near Ashford in Kent. Photo: PA
Just last week Greater Manchester Police issued a 61-year-old woman a £10,000 fine for organising a protests against the one per cent NHS pay rise. She was issued the fine for breaching Covid-19 rules on public gatherings.
The planned vigil will begin at 6pm on Saturday at Walthamstow Town Square 'in solidarity' with the Clapham Common vigil.
So far 140 people have pledged to attend on Facebook.
The Facebook page states: ""We believe that streets should be safe for women, regardless of what you wear, where you live or what time of day or night it is. We shouldn’t have to wear bright colours when we walk home and clutch our keys in our fists to feel safe.
A private ambulance (middle) amongst police vehicles at the search in an area of woodland. Photo: PA
"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.
"We’ve all been following the tragic case of Sarah Everard over the last week. 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."
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