Vigil for Sarah Everard - people urged to leave candles at Guildhall in Derry or online

People across the north west are being urged to leave a candle at the steps of Derry’s Guildhall or upload a photo of one online this weekend in memory of Sarah Everard.
Vigils will be held in Derry city centre and Portstewart in mermory of Sarah Everard.Vigils will be held in Derry city centre and Portstewart in mermory of Sarah Everard.
Vigils will be held in Derry city centre and Portstewart in mermory of Sarah Everard.

The ‘Derry Vigil for Sarah Everard - Reclaim the Streets’ has been organised by Alliance for Choice Derry and will involve individual acts of remembrance and will not be a gathering.

Ms Everard was last seen while walking to her home from a friend’s flat in south London on Wednesday, March 3.

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The 33-year-old vanished during the walk to her home in Brixton. She was last seen on a doorbell camera at around 9.30pm.

Sarah Everard.Sarah Everard.
Sarah Everard.

A Metropolitan Police officer has been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and murdering Sarah Everard.

Detectives investigating her disappearance on Wednesday night of this week discovered human remains – which have not yet been identified – in a woodland in Ashford, in Kent.

A vigil will be held this weekend in London for Sarah Everard and several others will be held across Northern Ireland including in Derry city centre and at Portstewart bandstand.

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Alliance for Choice Derry took to social media to urge people: “Leave a candle at the Guildhall steps or on social media any time after 6pm on Saturday March 13th to honour Sarah and all victims of gender-based violence.

“Please note this is not a gathering - this is about women’s safety so wear a mask and practice social distancing should others arrive to pay respects at the same time as you.

“We would like you to bring a candle, placard, note or flowers and leave these items in the designated space after 6pm. The vigil space will be open all Saturday evening and Sunday.

“If you cannot get the Guildhall, please light a candle for Sarah at 6pm and share it with the hashtag #reclaimthestreets”

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A non-specific post on social media relating to women’s safety everywhere is being shared across the world.

It reads: “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 phonecall. Has rounded a corner and run.

“Every woman you know has walked home scared. Every woman you know.”