I’m so angry at the moment, that I don’t even know where to start
The death of Sarah Everard is not a TERF war. Its not an alienation tactic. Its not a political stance. Its not you v them. Its not raising the profile or a PR stunt by high profile people.
Reading and looking at social media this morning, I’m disappointed, hurt and at a loss for words.
What it is, is the death of an innocent women, who was brutally murdered, by an organisation that is sworn to protect us.
It is the final push, like the George Floyd killing for BLM, to say all people should feel safe walking home from work regardless of sex, and especially from those in power
For those saying I wasn’t welcome, what made you feel uncomfortable? Why did you leave ?
For those saying the women should have stayed at home & it was an illegal gathering. I say why do you not say the same thing for the images of football fans on the street celebrating?
Those that say they were putting lives at risk, their lives are already at risk because of their sex and gender.
For all those who have tried to shame those who dared to stand against this atrocity. I say shame on you.
Some things are just too pivotal to let go and a stand needs to be made. These women have chosen to challenge the hypocrisy, the misogyny, the unprecedented violence that is targeted towards all women regardless
Their vigil only served to highlight why the gathering of support needed to take place, why things need to change
When the UK last saw such turmoil was, and I’ll happily stand corrected, was the race riots in Tottenham in the 1980s, and the miners strike also of the late 70’s early 80’s. Not forgetting the Poll Tax riots nor the 2011 riots at Twickenham
Now before anyone says what does this have to do with the death of Sarah, or the vigil held last night, both of those periods set about a momentum of change.
The Miners strikes, saw a removal of power from Trade unions, and the ability of government to criminalise activity which was to enable safety of workers and ensure fair pay. It also included the safeguarding of jobs, and a preservation of community and heritage found in the mining areas.
The race riots of Broadwater Farm & Brixton were even more transformative, as it brought in PACE (Police & Criminal Evidence) act, meaning that stop & search rights were tightened in an attempt to highlight the issue of Institional Racism.
However the riots of 2011 also in Tottenham, only go to show that unless actions are repeated and followed through, we will constantly find ourselves in an unsettling truce of distrust, hate, and fear.
This morning I read that as people went to pay their respects at the bandstand, that the flowers laid last night have been destroyed.
Will Sarah Everards death help propel and break down the privilege of white , male dominated environments ? Will it lead to a revolutionary approach to policing & recruitment ? Or will we see those in power try to deny the problem because it seemingly doesn’t apply to them.
Will you raise your left hand & stand to challenge change. Or will you shame, dismiss and exacerbate the current cycle of fear, division, and privilege.
As I bring this to a close, I will leave you 4 images for you to ponder & think about where you stand.
I know where I stand what about you
NB : Please note I am aware that the Broadwater & Brixton riots of the 1980s were far more complex than the simplified approach I have put forward in this post.
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