{"id":725567,"date":"2022-06-30T13:54:31","date_gmt":"2022-06-30T13:54:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/?p=1610085"},"modified":"2022-06-30T13:54:31","modified_gmt":"2022-06-30T13:54:31","slug":"zara-aleenas-family-is-holding-a-vigil-to-walk-her-home-this-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2022\/06\/30\/zara-aleenas-family-is-holding-a-vigil-to-walk-her-home-this-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"Zara Aleena\u2019s family is holding a vigil to \u2018walk her home\u2019 this weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-beyondwords-player=\"true\" contenteditable=\"false\"><\/div><p>On Sunday 26 June, a man murdered <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk-news\/2022\/jun\/29\/man-charged-with-of-zara-aleena-in-london-street-jordan-mcsweeney-\"  rel=\"noopener\">Zara Aleena<\/a> as she walked home in Ilford, East London. Jordan McSweeney appeared at Thames Magistrates&#8217; Court on 29 June. He was charged with her murder, as well as robbery and attempted rape.<\/p>\n<p>Aleena&#8217;s devastated family shared a moving tribute ahead of a vigil to &#8216;walk her home&#8217; on Saturday.<\/p>\n<h2>Solidarity and condolences<\/h2>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">A man attacked Aleena near her home in Ilford, East London at 2am as she was on her way home from a night out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">In a moving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-england-london-61925686\"  rel=\"noopener\">tribute<\/a> to their slain loved one, Aleena&#8217;s family shared:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">She walked everywhere. She put her party shoes in a bag and donned her trainers. She walked. Zara believed that a woman should be able to walk home. Now, her dreams of a family are shattered, her future brutally taken.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Many took to Twitter to share their solidarity and condolences. Deborah Coles &#8211; the director of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inquest.org.uk\/\"  rel=\"noopener\">INQUEST<\/a>, a charity that works to support bereaved families impacted by state violence &#8211;\u00a0 tweeted:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"8SH9dG67QcKwTjy0OExIC1fJFARUs4olVqgenZY2kvmphz\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A beautiful family tribute to Zara, another woman\u2019s life cut short by male violence. \u201cher sense of justice and fairness led her to a life of giving and caring for others \u2013 supporting refugees fleeing violence, giving voice to those who had less power.&quot; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rcgnlPmdaz\">https:\/\/t.co\/rcgnlPmdaz<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Deborah Coles (@DebatINQUEST) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DebatINQUEST\/status\/1542216854965460992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 29, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Zarah Sultana, Labour MP for Coventry South, shared:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"ifzeBZZKjPbsn1BF6xh6ugO50gdzS2RVEqUpNvhHIGAWodCuqjMcWktrlQ2XaN94PyU4eY3H8o8y7XaQVFDGJi0kc\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Zara Aleena should have gotten home safely.<\/p>\n<p>All women should be able to walk wherever we want, whenever we want, free from the threat of violence and murder.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s hard to find words to express the grief and rage.<\/p>\n<p>My love and prayers are with Zara\u2019s loved ones <img src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/13.0.1\/72x72\/1f90d.png\" alt=\"\ud83e\udd0d\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em; max-height: 1em;\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/zarahsultana\/status\/1542287389799899138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 29, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/span><\/p>\n<p>And writer Taj Ali said:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"PMyF9K2iq78Z1v40tzQVOcSdfGJmUoH6TeXakluCYpIsbgEnB\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">My thoughts and prayers are with Zara Aleena and her loved ones. A 35-year-old woman who was brutally beaten to death by a stranger in Ilford, east London on Sunday. She is the 16th woman to be murdered in London this year. Inna lillahi wa ina ilayhi raji&#39;un. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QUslCTB4iH\">pic.twitter.com\/QUslCTB4iH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Taj Ali (@Taj_Ali1) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Taj_Ali1\/status\/1541680663627288577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 28, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Not an isolated incident<\/h2>\n<p>In their\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-england-london-61925686\"  rel=\"noopener\">statement<\/a>, Aleena&#8217;s family said:<\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i86\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">In a savage, sickening, act she was murdered by a stranger. She&#8217;s not the only woman who has lost her life like this. In the moment of this tragedy, we extend our deepest sympathy and love to the families of Bibaa Henry; Nicole Smallman; Sarah Everard; Sabina Nessa; Ashling Murphy and many more women.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>They added:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i86\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">We must PREVENT and STOP violence against women and girls.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>As <em>The Canary<\/em>&#8216;s Eliza Egret highlighted following the murder of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/opinion\/2021\/09\/28\/why-she-was-just-walking-home-feeds-a-victim-blaming-narrative\/\"  rel=\"noopener\">Sabrina Nessa<\/a>\u00a0in September 2021, women are even more at risk of experiencing misogynistic violence in their own homes.<\/p>\n<p>Reflecting this, feminist campaign group <a href=\"https:\/\/www.welevelup.org\/\"  rel=\"noopener\">Level Up<\/a> shared:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"8CoxTYv9RVWGKXBO8mUH1cD3gIslsnpOB6t4KjESZzvM6WatpiihbkD13kEYzNIocQdLuLVXFedqJ00Fw\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Zara Aleena is the 52nd woman in the UK this year to be killed by a man. <\/p>\n<p>How many more of us will be murdered this year on our way home &#8211; or in our own homes? <\/p>\n<p>How many more men will feel entitled to take our bodies &#8211; our lives?<\/p>\n<p>Exhausting, enraging.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/auWH0YzxN6\">https:\/\/t.co\/auWH0YzxN6<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Level Up (@we_level_up) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/we_level_up\/status\/1542391765919047681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 30, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Stop the victim blaming<\/h2>\n<p>Responding to a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/entry\/zara-aleena-walked-because-she-loved-to-walk_uk_62bc18bbe4b05653163a7332\"  rel=\"noopener\">victim blaming<\/a> response to Aleena&#8217;s murder, journalist Lorraine King shared:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"U92Sem\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is peak victim blaming.<br \/>Zara Aleena and every other woman have the right to walk home whatever time of the day or night.<br \/>The issue is men who think they have the right to murder women. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/aUBhIIDuNc\">pic.twitter.com\/aUBhIIDuNc<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Lorraine King (@lorrainemking) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/lorrainemking\/status\/1541487638657597444?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 27, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Underlining that it isn&#8217;t women&#8217;s responsibility to moderate their behaviour in the face of misogynistic violence, another Twitter user shared:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"B3eCHqX6bPqM1hT7WMzt44tsPrN86YIgvWd5IjYl7mTyDGOSLQ9ikonBaFkw8mnu1yKJl032UApN5ZbXQcOjDiK0\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWhy was she walking?\u201d<br \/>\u201cWhy was she out at 3am?\u201d<br \/>\u201cShe should of..\u201d<br \/>\u201cWhy didn\u2019t she\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>FUCK OFF! She had EVERY right to walk where tf she wanted at any time! Zara Aleena was innocent. I\u2019m sick of Women being blamed for Men\u2019s violence towards them <img src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/13.0.1\/72x72\/1f92c.png\" alt=\"\ud83e\udd2c\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em; max-height: 1em;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/13.0.1\/72x72\/1f494.png\" alt=\"\ud83d\udc94\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em; max-height: 1em;\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Charlotte (@Charlotte_x91) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Charlotte_x91\/status\/1541515571552043010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 27, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Indeed, male violence is the issue here. This systemic issue demands a systemic response. This means a total transformation of our culture and society. Every man has a role to play in this.<\/p>\n<h2>Vigil to &#8216;walk Zara home&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>Aleena&#8217;s family plans to hold a vigil in her memory on Saturday 2 July at 1:30pm to &#8220;walk her home&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk\/\"  rel=\"noopener\">End Violence Against Women Coalition<\/a> campaign group tweeted:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"is5gGxFUXNfHeltYIZCADqryz2Ou3a4wBhMEnkR\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Please read this powerful message from Zara Aleena&#39;s family join them in remembering her this Saturday at 1.30pm opposite Cranbrook Rise in Ilford.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s unite to honour her life and walk her home. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3PMbrZ4vd4\">pic.twitter.com\/3PMbrZ4vd4<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; EVAW Coalition (@EVAWuk) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EVAWuk\/status\/1542141572069920769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 29, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Aleena&#8217;s family is inviting members of the public to join them and help to &#8216;walk her home&#8217;. They have asked attendees to wear white, and to maintain a &#8220;silent and sombre&#8221; atmosphere for the vigil.<\/p>\n<p><em>Featured image via <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/0yIzvpbRFw8\"  rel=\"noopener\">Mike Ralph\/Unsplash<\/a> resized 770 x 403px<\/em><\/p>\n<p>By <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/author\/sophiapm\/\">Sophia Purdy-Moore<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"syndicated-attribution\">This post was originally published on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/trending\/2022\/06\/30\/zara-aleenas-family-is-holding-a-vigil-to-walk-her-home-this-weekend\/\">The Canary<\/a>. <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Sunday 26 June, a man murdered Zara Aleena as she walked home in Ilford, East London. Jordan McSweeney appeared at Thames Magistrates\u2019 Court \u2026 <\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/trending\/2022\/06\/30\/zara-aleenas-family-is-holding-a-vigil-to-walk-her-home-this-weekend\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<\/a><\/div>\n<p>By <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/author\/sophiapm\/\">Sophia Purdy-Moore<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1543,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49384,3430,5594,1395,1496,31601,50648],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/725567"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1543"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=725567"}],"version-history":[{"count":211,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/725567\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":760618,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/725567\/revisions\/760618"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=725567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=725567"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=725567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}