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Reclaim These Streets (RTS) is a social justice organisation movement in the UK. The organization has the motto: We aim to use legislation, education and community action to ensure no woman has to be asked to “Text Me When You Get Home” again.[1] It exists as a hashtag #ReclaimTheseStreets. RTS raises funds for ROSA[2] a feminist charity in the UK that is named for three human rights champions Rosa Luxemburg, Rosa May Billinghurst, and Rosa Parks. As well as speaking out about feminist topics, RTS speaks out about policing issues, internet harassment, neighbourhood safety, and the right to protest in the street.
| Formation | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Leader | Jessica Leigh, Anna Birley, Henna Shah and Jamie Klingler |
| Website | https://reclaimthesestreets.com/ |
Jessica Leigh, Anna Birley, Henna Shah and Jamie Klingler of Reclaim These Streets took legal action against the Metropolitan Police Service, claiming that their human rights to freedom of speech and assembly had been breached in connection with their attempt to organise a vigil in Clapham Common, London, for the murdered Sarah Everard.[3]
RTS had attempted to organise a vigil and informed the police. RTS were told they would be liable to be issued with a fixed penalty notice by the Metropolitan Police Service if the protest went ahead.[4] Though the vigil was cancelled by RTS, many members of the public went to Clapham Common to pay their respects to Sarah Everard.[5] Attendees included Catherine, Princess of Wales.[6]
RTS sought a judicial review of the decision-making by the Metropolitan Police.[7] The case was heard in January 2022, and a judgment delivered on 11 March 2022 said that the Met's decisions in the run-up to the event were “not in accordance with the law”.[8][9] The Met were found to have ignored their duty to inform themselves of the considerations relevant to decision-making, their "Tameside duty".[7]: 81 The Met said it would appeal the judgment.[10] In April 2022, the High Court refused to grant the Met permission to appeal.[11] In April 2022, the Met applied to the Court of Appeal for permission to appeal against the judgment of the High Court.[12] The Court of Appeal declined permission.[13]
In 2021, RTS co-founder Jamie Klingler campaigned to "close loopholes" that led to an account impersonating her on Instagram not being investigated by police.[14] It has 40,000 followers on Twitter as of April 2022.[15]
Criticism
editIn an opinion piece in gal-dem, the journalist Diyora Shadijanova has criticised Reclaim These Streets, the approach it took to the Sarah Everard vigil, and its actions afterwards, as examples of divisive liberal feminism which stands in contradistinction to groups such as Sisters Uncut. Notably, RTS sought to cancel the vigil rather than go ahead with it in opposition to the police; framed it as a vigil rather than a protest; refused to countenance criticism of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick because she is a woman.[16]
References
edit- ^ "Reclaim These Streets Website". Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ "ROSA Charity home page". Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ Johnston. "Cressida Dick under pressure after police clashes tarnish vigil for Sarah Everard". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
- ^ "Leigh & Ors v Commissioner of The Police of The Metropolis & Anor [2021] EWHC 661 (Admin) (12 March 2021)". www.bailii.org. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
- ^ "Evidence Submitted to UK Parliament committee by Liberty". UK Parliament.
- ^ Hallam, Katy (13 March 2021). "Kate Middleton turns up to banned vigil to 'pay respects' to Sarah Everard". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Leigh & Ors v The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2022] EWHC 527 (Admin) (11 March 2022)". www.bailii.org. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
- ^ Grierson, Jamie (2022-03-11). "Met police breached rights of organisers of Sarah Everard vigil, court rules". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
- ^ Tobin2022-03-11T14:42:00+00:00, Sam. "Police acted unlawfully over Everard vigil, court rules". Law Gazette. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Sarah Everard vigil: Met Police appeal against High Court ruling". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ Selby, Jenn (11 April 2022). "High court denies Met permission to challenge ruling on Sarah Everard vigil". theguardian.com. Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ Badshah, Nadeem (29 April 2022). "Met seeks further bid to challenge high court ruling on Sarah Everard vigil". theguardian.com. Guardian.
- ^ PA Media (31 May 2022). "Met police blocked from fresh challenge to Sarah Everard vigil ruling". theguardian.com. Guardian. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
- ^ "Campaigner trying to close legal 'loophole' after Instagram impersonation". Sky News. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ "Reclaim These Streets". Twitter. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- ^ Shadijanova, Diyora (15 March 2021). "Reclaim These Streets' girl boss feminism will never set us free – gal-dem". Gal-Dem. Retrieved 14 September 2023.