People gathered in their hundreds at vigils across South Wales following the death of Sarah Everard, taking a stand against sexual harassment and violence against women.
Hundreds of people attended candlelit vigils across South Wales this weekend in response to the death of Sarah Everard and to confront violence against women.
The vigils took place online, in Newport and outside the Senedd in Cardiff on Saturday night. The 33-year-old woman, who went missing on 3 March from Clapham, London, is thought to have been kidnapped and killed by a Metropolitan police officer.
Organised by the group Reclaim These Streets, the gatherings also brought attention to high rates of female harassment and male violence against women across Wales.
“We all heard the statistic that came out this week that 97% of women have been harassed,” said Becky Ricketts, organiser of Cardiff’s major online event. “We’ve got to a situation where we have such high numbers, and nothing is being done.”
“We need to reframe how we talk about this issue,” said Ricketts. “The identity of it being a woman’s issue, simply negates and removes the responsibility of men ever addressing it or discussing it.”
Ricketts called for an active change of attitudes and behaviour from men.
She said: “To the men on the call tonight, are you doing due diligence to everyone in your life? Do you call out derogatory comments when you hear them, or do you turn a blind eye when one of your mates sends through a nude picture in the group chat? Because this is where it starts.”
The main event was originally organised to take place outside Cardiff’s Senedd, however it was moved online following negotiations with the South Wales police over COVID-19 safety concerns. Though, a number of small crowds did gather outside the Senedd with signs and gave speeches.
The virtual event attracted over 150 attendees, giving women the chance to speak out about personal experiences of harassment in South Wales.
One of the seven speakers, Harriet Martin-Jones said, “We have to keep fighting all of us, we have to make this moment a movement.”
“For all the women who fought before us, for all the women who are no longer with us, for every single woman who has a story.”
Following Sarah Everard’s death, a number of organisations have stepped forward offering support to women who have been harassed, assaulted or feel unsafe walking Cardiff’s streets.
Shameem Nawaz, a spokeswoman at the event for Cardiff Women’s Aid said the charity offered a helpline, support groups and workshops for women who had experienced harassment or violence from men.
The Angel Hotel on Castle Street, also recently announced it is offering ‘a safe space’ for women who feel at risk in Cardiff city centre.
