women's march 4 justice
Women march from Town Hall on March 15, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. Thousands are expected at “March 4 Justice” rallies across Australia calling for action against gendered violence in Parliament as news of the alleged rape of former Brittany Higgins at Parliament House and allegations that Attorney-General Christian Porter raped a 16-year-old girl when he was 17 in 1988 continue to cause outrage. Credit: Mark Evans/Getty Images

London is heavy right now. Not because of the pandemic or the fact we haven’t been able to see friends or family for almost three months, but because of the senseless murder of another young woman. Sarah Everard did everything right: she walked along a brightly-lit, busy street. She called her boyfriend halfway home. She wore bright clothing and sneakers she could easily run in. Loved ones knew where she was and what time to expect her home. But still, she was murdered. 

On March 3, images of Sarah started being shared across social media, friends begging anyone who’d seen her to get in touch. By the next week, an arrest had been made. It was a serving Metropolitan Police officer—a man supposed to be dedicated to ensuring our safety—who was charged with her murder. The next day, Sarah’s body was identified. She was just 33. 

For women in London who’d been following along, sharing images of Sarah the night of her disappearance and hoping—praying—for her safety, the news, though tragic, was sadly unsurprising. We began to grieve together, a city—then a country—then women all around the world in mourning, knowing full well that it was just luck it wasn’t us. 

On Saturday night, a vigil was held for Sarah in Clapham Common with hundreds of people, including the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, gathering to hold a candle up to remember Sarah, as well as to demand legislative change be made so women feel safe walking the street at night. 

When police arrived, the gathering turned violent with officers aggressively grabbing women and pinning them to the ground for breaking the UK’s lockdown laws. “Tonight, women gathered to mourn a sister who never made it home. And then they were brutalised by colleagues of the man suspected of her murder,” wrote British journalist Ash Sarkar on Twitter.

On the other side of the world, in Australia, thousands of people took to the streets to attend March 4 Justice, demanding action in response to allegations of workplace abuse of women. The protests were sparked by allegations of sexual assault and misconduct in some of the country’s highest political offices, including Brittany Higgens’ allegation that she was raped in Parliament House in 2017 by an older male colleague. 

Following Higgens’ going public with her story, further women came forward, including the family of a woman who alleged she was sexually assaulted by Attorney General Christian Porter, before later taking her own life. Porter has strongly denied the alleged assault.

Protesters march towards Parliament House on March 15, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. Thousands are expected at “March 4 Justice” rallies across Australia calling for action against gendered violence in Parliament as news of the alleged rape of former Brittany Higgins at Parliament House and allegations that Attorney-General Christian Porter raped a 16-year-old girl when he was 17 in 1988 continue to cause outrage. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

In Canberra, Brittany Higgins gave a speech in front of Parliament House, in which she took aim at the government’s treatment of her after she was allegedly raped by a former colleague in the building she stood in front of. “I speak to you today out of necessity,” Higgins said in her speech.

“We are all here today, not because we want to be here, because we have to be here. We fundamentally recognise the system is broken, the glass ceiling is still in place and there are significant failings in the power structures within our institution. We are here because it is unfathomable that we are still having to fight this same stale, tired fight.”

Brittany Higgins is seen outside Parliament House on March 15, 2021 in Canberra, Australia. Thousands are expected at “March 4 Justice” rallies across Australia calling for action against gendered violence in Parliament as news of the alleged rape of former Brittany Higgins at Parliament House and allegations that Attorney-General Christian Porter raped a 16-year-old girl when he was 17 in 1988 continue to cause outrage. Credit: Sam Mooy/Getty Images. 

A world away from each other, women stood together to demand change. No longer should workplace sexual assault and harassment be tolerated (or swept under the rug) and no longer should women have to feel terrified every single time they leave the house after dark. We’re angry. We’re exhausted. We aren’t the ones who need to change.

Head here to sign a petition to legalise the use of pepper spray for self-defence in the UK. Head here to donate to Reclaim the Streets. Head here to sign to protest a bill being proposed in the UK which will limit people’s right to protest. Head here to sign the March 4 Justice petition calling for the Australian government to establish an independent mechanism for handling workplace allegations.

If it’s been particularly tough for you reading the news today, in Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.