Several UK politicians and activists slammed London police’s heavy-handed approach at a Saturday night vigil for Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old woman who was murdered and her body was found in South London on Friday.
Throughout the day, mourners had flocked to the bandstand of Clapham Common, an area where Everard was last seen, in a tribute to her life. They also came in an act of solidarity, as an acknowledgement of the shared, omnipresent experience of intimidation, violence and harassment that women constantly face in public spaces, according to CNN.
The main event at Clapham Common was cancelled after the Metropolitan police said they couldn’t go ahead, citing COVID-19 restrictions. However, by nightfall, peaceful mourners gathered in Clapham, chanting: “This is a vigil, we do not need your services.”
Less than an hour later, officers moved in to inform people that they were breaching COVID-19 regulations and had to leave. After that, officers moved in and surrounded demonstrators – asking them to leave, or faces arrest and fines.
CNN reported that as law enforcement officers forcibly removed women from the bandstand and dropped others face down to the floor in arrest, attendees chanted: “Shame on you,” “Arrest your own,” and “Who do you protect.”
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Several UK leaders across party divides have agreed that the police response was disproportionately harsh and London Mayor has ordered “a full independent investigation of events yesterday evening and in previous days.”
UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said that “some” of the footage that was circulating online was “upsetting” and said she had asked the Metropolitan police for a “full report on what happened.”
However, Patel also introduced the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021, which critics say is intent on squashing the peaceful right to protest.
A police officer by the name of Wayne Couzens, has been charged with kidnapping and murdering Everard.
Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive, was last seen on March 3 in the Clapham neighbourhood of south London. The police said on Wednesday that human remains had been found as part of their investigation into her disappearance, prompting an outpouring of grief from lawmakers, community leaders and London residents.
(With ANI inputs)