The vigil in memory of Sarah Everard which was due to be held outside York Minster today (Saturday) has been called off. The Reclaim The Streets – York event was set to take place at 6pm.
People are being encouraged to take part at home instead.
Yesterday it was confirmed that the body found in woods in Kent was that of Sarah.
The 33-year-old marketing assistant, who grew up in York, was walking back to her home in Clapham when she disappeared.
Ban on London event
A Reclaim These Streets vigil set for Clapham bandstand at 6pm today was banned by police in London under coronavirus regulations.
A fundraising page set up by the Reclaim These Streets group has raised more than £115,000 just hours after it went live.
The group said it would join others in “shining a light – a candle, a torch, a phone at 9:30pm – to remember Sarah Everard and all the women affected by and lost to violence”
Organisers failed in a High Court challenge to overturn the ban.
“We are working with (Lambeth) Council, who remain wholly supportive,” they said on Friday.
“We call on the police to act within the law now and confirm that they will work with us to ensure that the protest can go ahead within the context of the overwhelming public response to Sarah Everard’s death.”
In a tweet, they added: “We are now in discussions with the Met to confirm how the event can proceed in a way that is proportionate and safe – our number one priority.”
Today they put out this tweet and criticised the actions of the Metropolitian Police.
Met Commander Catherine Roper said: “We take no joy in this event being cancelled, but it is the right thing to do given the real and present threat of Covid-19.”
Serving police constable Wayne Couzens was charged on Friday evening with kidnapping and killing Sarah.