ANGRY AND EXHAUSTED
Women hit out ahead of candlelit vigils being held in memory of murder victim
WOMEN around Scotland have shared their experiences of sexual harassment and intimidation ahead of a candlelit vigil tonight in memory of Sarah Everard.
Virtual events are to be held to remember murdered Sarah as women demand action to make the streets safe. One of the organisers, Chloe Whyte, 20, bravely shared her own experience of being attacked two years ago near Edinburgh’s Waverley Station. After plucking up the courage to report the incident, Chloe felt let down by police. “I was not really believed or listened to,” she said. “They seemed to be under the impression I was attacked because of what I was wearing. “I’d never realised wearing fishnet tights or a mini skirt would be seen as a reason. “I felt I was being blamed.” The incident was not a one-off, and when Chloe experienced another street harassment attack she did not report it. She said: “I thought, ‘What’s the point?’”
Many women can relate to Chloe’s experience. When news of Sarah’s murder emerged, thousands took to social media with their own memories.
Chloe decided to set up a “Reclaim The Night” vigil, which will be held online at 6pm today.
She said: “I felt so personally impacted by Sarah’s story and it feels like I’m considered lucky because my experience did not turn out worse.”
Kat Cary, 39, is a sexual assault survivor advocate, who trained in the military for 12 years.
She helped to coordinate the event and will be taking part alongside her partner Tyler, daughter Carmen, six, and son Eli, nine.
She said: “I was saddened by the news and it’s sickening and horrible but this is the reality for women.
“You realise how we are raised to just accept institutional misogyny or to think, ‘Boys will be boys’. We have unlearn these instincts.
“I think it’s also so important to teach my kids that even though terrible things happen, there are ways in which communities can come together to heal.”
Another Reclaim The Night organiser, Kirsty Irvine, 36, is originally from Newcastle and now lives in Edinburgh.
She said: “Most women across the UK have been horrified by Sarah’s murder.
“It struck me as a woman in my 30s who used to live in London. Women are just angry and exhausted and so much of what has happened we can relate to.
“We have had these safety measures drilled into us and Sarah did everything she was told to do, she walked in a well lit area, she was on the phone, it wasn’t too late.
“Time and time again it’s been proven to us that this is not enough.”
Kirsty has been encouraged by men speaking out in solidarity and is calling for more to show support.
She said: “I think it’s clear that lots of men have not realised what it’s like.
“The first thing women say to each other is ‘text me when you get in the house’ and I don’t think that would occur to a lot of men.
“I have had some people replying to the event saying ‘not all men are like this’ and we know that’s the case but almost all women have been attacked in some way.”
I felt that the police were blaming me because of what I was wearing CHLOE WHYTE ON EXPERIENCE OF REPORTING ATTACK TO COPS