The harrowing case of Sarah Everard sparked a fierce backlash from women in the UK and growing social movement under the title 'Reclaim These Streets'.
Like a number of existing advocacy groups, the movement are speaking out against gender violence and the oppression and harassment of women in society, and have gained thousands of supporters across the UK including in Croydon.
The Founder of Reclaim These Streets Croydon, Writer Sarah Milne, told the Croydon Guardian that she felt Sarah's death had been a catalyst for change.
"I think I like everybody else was really upset about what happened to Sarah Everard. It was just that final thing, that catalyst that made people think about their own experience and how public places can be really dangerous for women," she said.
Milne, who is a sexual assault survivor herself, said more needed to be done to educate people about the prevalence of violence against women.
"It's not talked about that this could happen to you. We don't prepare our younger people both boys and girls for what to do...we don't teach people to be assertive or have strategies in place.
"Women are often made to feel guilty about these experiences. I think that's why this case has erupted into all these people wanting to protest and speak out, because it's something that is not always easy to put into words.
"People can look at you like you are flawed or that there is something wrong with you. The reactions I have had from others when I have talked about these things in the past have been quite negative in that sense...so you end up just carrying this with you."
Milne said she was asthmatic and currently shielding from coronavirus, adding that she supported the protests but had found Reclaim These Streets Croydon members hoping to influence the new discourse about violence and harassment against women in a different way.
"So far what we've found with the Croydon group is that what people want to do is explore their stories, and educate. We want to get stories out there and what it's like to go through these things. Some people say this is a rare occurrence but it is not.
"In Croydon we are way above the national crime rate, and domestic violence is increasing in this borough. People talk a lot about knife crime here and it's right to do so, but I think violence against women has almost been a bit forgotten.
"What we want to do is let people know what people in our borough are experiencing, from harassment and catcalling to some of these violent and sexual crimes that often are not even reported. The reported crimes alone are the tip of the iceberg," Milne said.
Misogyny in @metpoliceuk is a deep-rooted, institutional problem. The police need to stop doubling down and issue a full public apology.
— Reclaim These Streets (@ReclaimTS) March 15, 2021
There must be a fully independent investigation into how they policed Saturday's protest. They cannot be allowed to mark their own homework.
To that end, they are looking to build upon the direct actions that were sparked by Reclaim These Streets following the vigil and heavily-criticised, heavy-handed policing of women attendees by the Met Police.
Indeed, that vigil and subsequent protests in central London have already had some success, forcing the government to change its policy on misogyny and direct the police to treat it as a hate crime.
However, there remains a huge and likely arduous road ahead for campaigners seeking to challenge the roots of misogynistic harassment and violence in society.
As a statement on the Conservative's controversial Crime and Policing Bill posted on the central Reclaim These Streets Twitter page read:
"359 votes for a bill that doesn't mention women. 359 votes for a bill that protects statues more than it protects us. 359 votes to silence us even more.
"Institutional misogyny and racism go to the very top - women's voices aren't being heard and our needs aren't being met."
Milne said Reclaim These Streets Croydon hope their initial focus on education can strengthen direct actions seen in central London recently with more long-term efforts aimed at stoking a deeper cultural change.
"We want to really work to get these stories out there and educate the public about what can happen and what you can do to stop this and how you can respond."
Reclaim These Streets Croydon can be found on Facebook here and are holding a Zoom workshop for women members at 2.30pm on Sunday, March 28.
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