Hundreds join mum of murdered sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman at vigil call for end to violence against women
HUNDREDS of people attended a vigil last night to honour the memory of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman.
The sisters were killed by Danyal Hussein, 19, who was found guilty last month of killing the two sisters.
The 19-year-old had murdered them in Fryent Country Park, North West London last year in a satanic sacrifice while they were celebrating Bibaa’s birthday.
And last night, on what would have been Nicole’s 29th birthday, a vigil was held at the scene of the attack.
It was organised by Reclaim the Streets, who worked with the sisters' mum Mina Smallman.
Addressing the gathered crowds at the ceremony, she said: "As a teacher and a priest I have given my life over to raising boys and girls that people looked down.
"Now I'm doing it for my girls and I'm doing it for every one of the girls here."
Held at 7pm, those in attendance had the opportunity to “light a candle for all the women threatened on our streets and lost to male violence.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and Labour MPs for Brent Dawn Butler and Barry Gardiner, who were amongst the crowds of people gathered to remember the sisters.
Anyone who couldn't attend was encouraged to light their own candle and share on social media to show their support.
Speaking to The Sun before the vigil, Co-founder of Reclaim These Streets Anna Birley said: “We are looking to change the way that women are viewed, but especially black women, who often receive less coverage or less, less support from the police and other institutions.
“We wanted to make sure that we ask ourselves why, and remember all the victims of male violence and take collective action to tackle it.
“I think a few other vigils are happening tonight around the country at the same time. Certainly Hackney and Walthamstow in London are having a minute's silence at the same time as us and others.
“We're asking people to light a candle and then take that minute reflecting on male violence and remembering the lives of women who have been victims of it.
“It is Mina moment and the rest of the family to have that support, to cope with the grief and loss of their daughters, and to stand up and say they want to change the world, that's incredible.
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“She wants to celebrate the life of her daughters, and also shine a light on what has happened.
"She believes that her daughters would be proud of everything she has done since their deaths.”
HOW YOU CAN GET HELP
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a - available every day from 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.