An Edinburgh vigil was held last night at the Scottish Parliament in remembrance of Sarah Everard who was kidnapped, raped and murdered last year by a serving Metropolitan police officer.
Around 100 people gathered outside Holyrood in the dim light of the early evening to remember the 33-year-old and the many other women who have been murdered by men, and felt unsafe in their daily lives.
The memorial event organised by the Edinburgh students behind Strut Safe, was held on Thursday evening, 12 months to the day since the 33-year-old was kidnapped off the streets as she walked home in South London.
The atmosphere was poignant as around dozens gathered to mourn not just the loss of Sarah Everard a year on from the day she was kidnapped but every other woman that has been murdered as a result of misogyny and male violence.
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One message was clear from several speakers, all from different backgrounds. They shared the exhaustion that women face having to protect themselves, protect their friends, constantly be on guard and worry about their safety, about what they wear, where they walk, what they do in case of their worst fears.
Demonstrators stood silently as campaigner and co-founder of Strut Safe Rachel Chung gave a speech saying “nothing has changed”.
The student said: “We’re not here looking to become martyrs, I don’t want to be a poster, I don’t want to front a news campaign. I don’t want to die.
“I want to wake up in the morning and know that I am treated like a person.”
Speaking to Edinburgh Live Alice Jackson co-founder of Strut Safe said: “We organised the event because we wanted it to be a memorial for Sarah but also a call to action.
"I think we have realised there is no path without change that we are willing to expect. It sounds a little silly but if you are not with us as a politician then get out of the way because change is inevitable and it is coming.
“I don’t think there has been much change in the past year, not only has there been push back on this issue as we continue to demand change I think as well we are finally discovering the extent of the issue and the curtain is being pulled back on this.
“Institutions are perpetuating this as much as they are tolerating it."
On politicians leaving the memorial early the 22-year-old said: “It says that they don't value the issue , it says they use it as a press opportunity, they’re committed to the theory in theory but not in practice and it tells me they don’t care.”
Strut Safe is a volunteer hotline that was set up by the Edinburgh students in April last year. Run by volunteers the service offers a free hotline for anyone feeling unsafe walking home alone to stay on the phone until they reach their destination safely.
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Jack Lennox, a 22-year-old Global Health Policy Masters student at the University of Edinburgh told Edinburgh Live: “I’m here in support of the women who organised the event in sharing their stories and to generally support the movement against male violence.
“It was very upsetting to see how many MPs didn’t stick around for the event and were just here for the photo op - that was the most immediate thing that I noticed.”
Fourth year politics student Maddy said: “I’m here today because like all of the women I suspect I am angry, I am angry at the fact that one year later no one feels any safer and I feel more needs to be done about and that’s why I’m really glad we are outside Parliament to show our legislators that they need to do more.
“I don’t feel any safer a year on. I was telling people on the way here I was honked at by a car just right over there. It still happens really frequently. I think nothing gets done because the people in power are complacent and they don’t care enough.
“It makes me feel depressed to see politicians attend the event but leave shortly after. I have a lot of respect for politicians like Monica Lennon that did stay and gave very moving speeches. I know there are some politicians that do try really hard to advocate the issue but I don’t feel it's enough.
“While some are happy to come to the photo call because they think it’ll look good on their social media, not enough politicians are actually prepared to get stuck into what it means to tackle this issue systematically.
“I’d like to talk to the men reading this, I think men all need to look at the other men in their lives and really asses if what they say is always appropriate or if what they say is polite and respectful towards women and if not have a hard look at doing something about that, and challenging the behaviour of their family, peers and colleagues.”
Martin Leonard, a volunteer of the Strut Safe service told Edinburgh Live: “I’m a volunteer with Strut Safe but for more personal reasons I haven’t always been the best at calling out other men when they haven’t been great in the past so I wanted to help.
“I’ve realised this in the last year or so, the issue has been more prevalent in the media and with Twitter and social media it's easier to access information that isn't always reported on in the media so it's easier to access."
