Sarah Everard was a 33-year-old woman who was reported missing on March 4th. On March 9th, the Metropolitan Police of London announced the arrest of a fellow officer named Wayne Couzens for connection with Sarah’s disappearance. Sadly, on March 10th, her remains were found in a builder’s bag in woodland. Police in London charged Mr. Couzens with Everard’s kidnapping and murder. 

Ms. Everard was walking home from a friend’s house in London on a busy street when suddenly she went missing. Sarah was walking near the roads where the traffic is burdensome and near homes. In London, during their lockdowns, the community has been advised to avoid public transport and walk or take a ride instead. Following March 4th, when she was first reported missing, police had looked for footage, searched parklands, and spoke to more than 750 people to get any piece of information they could get. 

It is very sick and disturbing how Wayne Couzens, a police officer, could do such a thing. This incident proves how we can’t trust anyone. This murder sparked a considerable debate in the United Kingdom about women’s safety and misogyny and connected women in telling their stories. Spreading awareness about this significant issue is essential as women often get scared to tell their stories in fear of someone gaslighting their account and making them believe that maybe it was their fault when it never is. 

A Gallup poll showed that 77% of white women feel safe when walking alone at night, but 67% of Hispanic women, 63% of Asian women, and 51% of black women feel safe. A QC named Helena Kennedy  who has worked for over 30 years to improve women’s rights said that even though not every man has harassed or violated a woman in public, there isn’t a woman who hasn’t experienced some form of any abuse.  

Sarah’s family released a statement right after the police found her body. They remembered her as “bright and beautiful. She was kind and thoughtful, caring and dependable. She always put others first  and had the most amazing sense of humor.” 

Her family and friends have attended rallies in public to honor her. A colleague of hers, Peter McCormack, wrote about her, “uniquely funny, always positive, hard-working, loyal, happy and beautiful.” 

Women should have the right to feel safe at whatever time of day and not be worried about someone kidnapping them or harassing them.  

Work cited 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.today.com/today/amp/tdna212406 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.abc.net.au/article/13261376