Man kills woman...Women told to "stay away"

We need to get out on the streets every single time. A March, a vigil or any show of the strength of our feelings about these killings. We are angry .

The vigil was really a general protest against men continuing to get away with abusing and killing women in large numbers, and it not being seen as a societal problem. Sarah Everard's murder and the Twitter campaign which invited women to share their own stories was the catalyst for such a large vigil. But really it was about the rise in murders including domestic murders, and the way that men get away with it, e.g. rape convictions at an all time low. Yes, she was blond and pretty, but she's dead unfortunately. Most murdered white women don't get a nationally publicised vigil.

Violent men and the epidemic of killing and violence against women is the issue here. I saw reports about Bennylyn Burke. Absolutely tragic. Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman's murder was absolutely tragic. And all other numerous women that have been killed by men. Every death by murder is tragic. Not all of them get the headlines because it is so commonplace.

I learned Krav Maga and am capable of seriously injuring or killing a man, I carry very sharp items to use to defend myself with and I'm always hyper vigilant. When I was younger I lived in london and had a few close calls, one was particularly nasty. It's a horrible subject to have to discuss but mindset is half of your survival, be prepared to bite the cheek off your assailant with all your strength, gouge his eyes out, do whatever it takes, you can't be worried about causing pain or injury in that situation. Society tells us to not be violent or aggressive, but that's exactly what you have to be. These men rely on us being passive or scared when they approach us, be loud, vulgar, aggressive and violent, it's amazing how strong you can be when adrenaline kicks in

It hasn't generated anywhere near the shock and outrage of Sarah Everard though. Is it because Julia was older, she was a pcso or because activists have moved on and are now busy out of lockdown?

There's been a lot of news coverage. If you are asking about why other women don't seem as outraged or angry, perhaps the question needs to be addressed to other women. To be honest, I think there's an easier explanation - opportunism. The very same time that there was so much coverage about the search for Sarah and the discovery of her body, another young woman and her two young daughters disappeared from the Bristol area. The police were desperately searching for them. It was in the news. They were reported missing two days before Sarah disappeared (although they hadn't been seen for two weeks before). eight days after Sarah's body was found the woman and one of her daughters (aged 2) was found dead, and the other daughter alive. There was a vigil. Where was everyone? Or did a poor single mum from an ethnic minority really not rank that high compared to a pretty blonde professional middle class woman?

It is tragic what happened to Sarah, and what happened to Bennylyn Burke. Perhaps what is even more tragic is that only one of them was deemed good enough to be the public face of outrage.

The Sarah Everard case was unbelievably tragic, but even in that reporting there was misogyny. She was attractive young and blonde. What happened about the two black sisters killed after the park birthday party? We've heard far less about them.

Sarah Everard, abducted from a busy London street and her remains dumped many miles away, the presumed killer a police officer with no connection to her.

This case is likely to be somewhat different

but yes
Curfews for men would be a start

Yes, on a much lower level, we apparently have a flasher in our local woodland. I'm not entirely sure how true it is, but there have been a lot of FB reports of a man acting strangely. I'm sceptical because it sometimes feels like even other women want to see women's freedoms removed. I'm fed up of being made to feel irresponsible because I still like to run there on my own.

I agree.

The police spokesman said they don't want to prevent people walking their dogs and going about their normal business, but just to be vigilant.

Because this is going to turn out that it wasn’t a random bloke.

Do you have any reason for thinking that? I'd wondered if her work (against domestic violence in particular) might have made her a target.

Julia James, a pcso, is murdered and there just doesn't seem anywhere near the same level of outrage and msm interest. Why??

Because this is going to turn out that it wasn’t a random bloke.

It happened a few miles from me, and the police have drawn comparisons with the murders of Lin and Megan Russell 25 years ago, again just a few miles from me.

I think realistically, the police know that violent men are not suddenly gonna stay home because the police told them too. Good chance that 'decent' men wont stay home either and would be offended at the insinuation that .all men are like that'. Its easier, rightly or wrongly to get the potential victims to avoid doing things to protect themselves, a little like if there are a spate of burglaries its suggested to keep doors and windows locked and valuables/car keys etc out of sight.

I'm in a more urban area but I would think twice about walking alone rurally around here atm.

RIP Julia.

I sometimes just despair that the response to male violence is to ask women to change. I get that it’s well meant. But it solves nothing, and nothing changes.

I think the thing that men (and some women) don't take into account is the augmenting effect that general sexist behaviour and comments and the sheer ubiquitousness of 'minor', non-violent harassment have on women's wariness and fear of potential attack.

It's all too easy to look at the actually pretty tiny likelihood of any individual woman being attacked by a strange man in the woods and dismiss women's fears and reluctance to walk alone as therefore totally irrational. But men show us day-in-day-out in their interactions, unwanted comments and online behaviour what they really think of women and what they'd like to do to us. Is it any wonder that our risk analysis is skewed by that knowledge?

I'm actually quite concerned (and scared) by the apparent agenda from some groups against the police (the ACAB shit).

Of course in the end - if these people get their way - it will be the most vulnerable including female victims of violence, who lose out. Those wealthy enough will hide behind private gated security (including those at the top who are instigating the ACAB stuff).

Yes unfortunately society generally sees middle aged women (and older) as pretty worthless. I wish that wasn't the case.

Rip Julia

Sarah Everard's murder was the catalyst for a Twitter campaign about not feeling safe to walk the streets, and it gained momentum from there, ending in the vigil. Sadly the vigil was hijacked by other groups.
It also would have been sensitive to have made it a vigil for all women murdered by men, to minimise some of the feelings that were triggered by the thought that one tragic murder victim was singled out above others. Of course, the loved ones of all these women would just prefer to them not to have been murdered at all.

RIP all women murdered at the hands of men, known to them or strangers.

Men love the idea of curtailing women's behaviour through violence but the terrible thing is it's effective. Predators and opportunists target vulnerability and so women always have to be, at some level, attuned to their own vulnerability. I resent that I even have to give mindspace to this stuff. I also resent when women are told to feel stronger or to be more confident or that it's silly to fear these 'rare' events. Female attitude adjustment is not what's required here, it's male behavioural change. A man isn't going to attack a woman who feels nervous over a woman who feels feisty. He's going to attack the woman who is easiest to pick off. I love taking my dog for walks in the countryside but I'd love it more if I never had to think about these things again. Never mind women needing their own toilets and locker rooms, we really need our own bloody island.

'To people saying is isn't in the news, Julia James murder is in the news. It was on BBC, ITV and channel 4 news last night'

It hasn't generated anywhere near the shock and outrage of Sarah Everard though. Is it because Julia was older, she was a pcso or because activists have moved on and are now busy out of lockdown?

I’m finding it disrespectful for the article to refer to Julia James throughout by her surname, as though she was a criminal. Is that a done thing these days?

Looks like they’ve changed the article to place the family’s response first, which I think is thoughtful of them.

To people saying is isn't in the news, Julia James murder is in the news. It was on BBC, ITV and channel 4 news last night. Long pieces too, not just a mention.

I agree it's awful that women are told to stay home, when it's men who are the risk.

'The vigil for Sarah Everard was highly unusual and a rare occurrence. Every murder is tragic, most don't trigger a vigil.'

Yes and the 'acab' activists made it their event didn't they.

Who knew it was only shocking and worthy of protests if women were murdered by police officers.

I hadn’t seen anything about this tragedy until this thread.
I live rurally and I have a friend who walks through countryside alone with her dog, yet I feel too scared to. The murder of Lin Russel and her daughter, with her other daughter almost killed too, only two miles from this , stayed in my head and made me frightened to walk with my daughters. Even when I walk with my friend I feel scared.
Women live with what is essentially terrorism all their lives, and it makes our lives smaller.
Julia James sounds a wonderful woman. 😢😢😢

'Because middle aged women are worthless in today's society'

It seems so. Walking a dog and brutally murdered! it is just beyond comprehension that this isn't high profile in the news. It gets a brief mention but way after other far less shocking events.

Where are the activists, are they just busy shopping and socialising now lockdown is practically over?

The vigil for Sarah Everard was highly unusual and a rare occurrence. Every murder is tragic, most don't trigger a vigil.