Keys in hand, headphones turned off, regularly sending your location to friends, an oppressive sense of fear, and always looking over your shoulder. Sounds familiar? Walking home alone is a nightmare scenario for many women. That’s how it must have felt for 33-year-old Sarah Everard when she was on her way home from a friend’s house in south London on March 3. Sadly she never got there. Days later, the young woman’s body was found and an elite police officer was charged with murder and indecent exposure. Many Londoners took to the streets afterwards, mourning and protesting for more safety for women. Because to date, despite the large number of crimes that begin with the words “the woman was alone on her way home,” little to no action has been taken. In contrary: Crimes likes this are turned into victim blaming phrases like „what was she doing alone in the dark?”
Of course, not all men are potential predators, but how can we as women know that when we’re out alone at night? It is long overdue to make women safer! We have collected the best Tweets on the case and hope that something changes as soon as possible. For Sarah!
#1:
every woman knows it’s not all men. but we don’t know WHICH men. so we stay wary of ALL men. it’s not rocket science
— lucy 🦋🦢 (@xlucymoorex) March 10, 2021
#2:
If you’ve ever begged girls for nudes after they’ve repeatedly said no, you’re one of the 97% by the way 👍🏾
— VANESSA WHERE ARE YOU!!! (@vanessarennae) March 12, 2021
#3:
When I was 19, a guy grabbed my breast in a nightclub so I slapped him across the face immediately.
Everyone gasped at me for slapping him but no one gasped at him for assaulting me.
This is what has been normalised.
It is not acceptable.#TooManyWomen— Annabel (@xannikinsx) March 11, 2021
#4:
Keys between fingers, walking in the middle of the road, avoiding gaps in hedges or entrances to alleyways, phone on, headphones out, cross the road, check over your shoulder. We aren't born doing this stuff, we learn over years of watching women's trauma play out #SarahEverard
— Sophie Gallagher (@SCFGallagher) March 10, 2021
#5:
When #notallmen is trending higher than #saraheverard, do you see the problem?
— Emma Kennedy💙 (@EmmaKennedy) March 10, 2021
#6:
As a teenager, one of my mates could call her dad at any time of the night, and he'd come and pick her up – no questions asked. Idiotic me used to laugh at him for spoiling his daughter. I had no idea how privileged I was to be insulated from the reasons why. #SarahEverard
— Richard Burr (@RichardPBurr) March 10, 2021
#7:
The saddest thing about women sharing their stories about anxiously walking home alone, is that every woman has one.
— Amy Overy (@AmyJOvery) March 11, 2021
#8:
It's odd how few men, decent men, realise how scared women are when walking home alone. And the range of precautions they feel compelled to take.
— ruth wishart (@ruth_wishart) March 10, 2021
#9:
19 years ago this week my best friend was murdered. Dragged into a van walking home at night.
I remember sitting on a bus, listening to two old bitches moaning “Why was she in a pub in the first place? Why was she walking home alone?”
Not much has changed.
— Ella 🚲 (@runpaintrunrun) March 10, 2021
#10:
Every woman you know has taken a longer route.
Has doubled back on herself.
Has pretended to dawdle by a shop window.
Has held her keys in her hand.
Has made a fake phone call.
Has rounded a corner and run.Every woman you know has walked home scared.
Every woman you know.
— Harriet Johnson (@HarrietEJohnson) March 10, 2021
#11:
Has locked her car doors as soon as she has sat down.
Has avoided the top deck at night.
Has got off a Tube stop earlier.
Has sighed with relief on getting home safely while locking the door.
Has told a cabbie to drop her off slightly further down the road.— Joy Persaud (@JoyPersaud) March 10, 2021
#12:
Has locked her car doors as soon as she has sat down.
Has avoided the top deck at night.
Has got off a Tube stop earlier.
Has sighed with relief on getting home safely while locking the door.
Has told a cabbie to drop her off slightly further down the road.— Joy Persaud (@JoyPersaud) March 10, 2021
#13:
Has called a friend/partner from the cab
Has texted cab details to a friend to leave a trail
Has insisted a friend texts/calls when home safe
Has checked behind themself in the hotel check in queue when receiving their room number— Liz Love (@lizzielove) March 10, 2021
#14:
There’s a reason fathers and brothers are so protective. Men don’t even trust men
— Ana❔ (@anamari0_) March 14, 2021
#15:
I saw a post saying that if you see a woman walking at night, a friendly hello would put her mind at ease. I can’t lie don’t say hello to me if I’m walking by myself at night lol just leave me alone
— 🥂 (@raashidaaaa) March 14, 2021
#16:
men saying “i’ve been scared to walk alone in the dark too??” yeah….Because of other men
— Emily (@EmMcchrystal) March 10, 2021
