EVAW statement on the violence against young girls in Southport

Our thoughts are with the families and community of Southport who are grieving the tragic loss of three young girls: Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King and Alice Dasilva Aguiar. We’re sickened by these despicable acts of violence against children and their teacher.

We cannot lose any more lives to male violence. We know it is preventable – prioritising ending the epidemic of violence against women must be at the very top of the government’s agenda. It must act urgently to prevent this harm rather than only responding after the harm is done.

In the last few days we have seen a community in shock, coming together in peaceful vigil to mourn. It is absolutely appalling to see the far right inflict further violence and harm on a grieving community.

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (‘Tommy Robinson’) and the far right’s weaponisation of the murder of these young girls is part of a pattern of distorting public concerns about violence against women and girls to spread their hateful agenda. They will not control the narrative here.

We must also look at how these riots have been fuelled by racist disinformation and anti-migrant narratives online that are facilitated and promoted by tech platforms who gain financially from extremist content because it generates more engagement.

We stand with all the victims, their families and the community of Southport, and everyone affected by this appalling act of male violence.