A #ReclaimTheseStreets event is being held in Southampton this weekend

The event will take place at Southampton Common at 6pm tomorrow


Update: The organisers have said: “The police have told us this event cannot go ahead in person, and so we have changed it to a doorstep vigil and online event”. See below for more information.

A #ReclaimTheseStreets event is being held at Southampton Common tomorrow, Saturday 13th March, at 6pm.

The Southampton event follows the original Clapham event which was organised as a vigil for Sarah Everard who disappeared last week. Several other towns and cities are holding their own events.

Outcries on social media have highlighted the lack of safety for women on the streets, the #ReclaimTheseStreets events aim to demand safety for women.

A Facebook event was set up yesterday for the Southampton event.

The organisers wrote: “We believe women should feel safe to walk any street at any time. Women should not have to clutch their keys, text when they’re home, or walk the long way round to feel safe.

“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 and who feel unsafe, who go missing from our streets and who face violence every day.”

During the event a minute’s silence will be held at 18:15, the same time as in Clapham Common and other events across the country.

Strict social distancing measures will be observed with those coming being reminded to stand two metres apart and wear a facemask.

Update: The event will now start at 6:15 with a minute’s silence. The organisers said: “Take a candle, go to your doorstep and stand and remember Sarah Everard and all those who have lost their lives.

“At the end of the livestream, we welcome you to post pictures of your signs, flowers, and candles on the event so we can record all who got involved, and all the effort put into this event, even if we can’t meet in person.

“We want to thank the organisers of Reclaim the Streets in Clapham Common who inspired this event.”

Related articles recommended by this writer:

As women we should be able to walk home safely, but these stories prove we can’t

Women are sharing how men can make them feel more safe at night

Stop warning women against walking alone at night. We’re not the problem