While the British public continues to mourn the death of 33-year-old Sarah Everard and the sinister potential that her alleged killer may be someone entrusted to protect the public, concerns about women’s safety are still gaining momentum.
Everard, who was last seen on March 3, was embarking on a 50-minute journey on foot from a friend’s home in south London when she went missing.
In the presumably last known photo of her, the marketing manager was dressed in brightly colored clothes and had her walk along one of the city’s busy streets around 9:30 p.m.
Everard never got home, and the search for a missing person ended when the worst nightmares of her family were confirmed. Her body was discovered on March 10, 56 miles away from where she was last seen.
A police officer was arrested and charged with murder. Her death sparked a call for immediate action to address violence against women and girls, while activists took to the streets of London to protest.
The palpable grief associated with the kidnapping and death of Everard has been felt by women in the UK and online and serves as a reminder of how violence against women and its threat are part of everyday life.
The sentiment was captured in a powerful message on Instagram from fitness expert Lucy Mountain, with the phrase ‘SMS me when you get home xx.’
In the caption in support of her now viral message, Mountain writes: “I could not stop thinking about Sarah Everard and how a woman should not walk home. It’s unbearable. ⠀
‘I also felt a deep sense of connection between myself and other women this week. I’ve had conversations about being hyper-aware of our safety all our lives. The deep sense of connection is one of fear. ”
Online, women shared their personal experiences through hashtags such as #textmewhenyougethome and #ReclaimTheStreets to emphasize the urgent nature of the use of violence against women and girls by men.
The message is one that many women are used to sending without hesitation – and almost by default.
Some women told how the fear would often make them hyper-conscious, so that they would plan their escape route if they were ever attacked.
Women tell how they fear for their friends and sisters who did not confirm when they arrived home safely.
The phrase and purpose behind it is one that felt like a clear shared experience among women, as Mountain put it in her post: “SMS me when you get home xxx is a standard procedure among women. Auto-pilot.”
The investigation into the murder of Everard continues, as well as demonstrations with more protest actions and vigilance organized by activists.