Ala Arena was “at home” when she was killed on her way home from a night out. Her aunt spoke to hundreds of people at a rally dedicated to a 35-year-old law graduate.
The Arena was just minutes from the front door when attacked on June 26, while walking on Cranbrook Road in Ilford, eastern London.
The guard post hosted by Arena’s family on Saturday was full of love and support.
Many of the people on Cranbrook Road wore white clothes, but the mourners left dozens of flower bouquets and cards in honor of the arena.
Roads in the area were closed so that the crowd could walk a 10-minute journey from the scene of the attack to her home.
Members of Arena’s family led the crowd as she began to walk home. Many had Arena’s flowers and photos and wore T-shirts with her image on them.
Arena’s aunt, Fara Naz, stopped many yards away from her family’s house and turned to the crowd.
She states: Thank you for taking her walk, holding her in her heart, praying for her, and keeping her safe on this journey.
“At this point, thank you for coming home and coming here today. This is our Zara. This is our problem. This is something we all have to change and will never happen again. It should be. Thank you for being here. “
She then invited the people who attended to put the flowers they were carrying with them on the ground.
Marai Larasi, a member of the campaign group Million Women Rise, said: We are absolutely tired because we are tired of staying up all night, tired of crying, and tired of having to bury women of all ages and stages of life. “
Ash Vickers, 54, a friend of Arena’s aunt, said: When she heard the news that happened last Sunday, she called me on the way from the airport.
“I’m a lawyer. Zara wanted to train as a lawyer, so Farrer often talked to me to let me know how her progress was going.
“Trageously, my own childhood was attacked 17-18 years ago, died on the streets of London, and I studied law very tragically, but 17-18 years later, the same thing happened. I am. “
Sharman Islam Siraj, 38, from Ilford, said: We are from that area. This is our home. This is our community.
“She was the one who saw us walking past the house all the time. She was in the same school as my sister. She was just a local girl, and I said this I felt this could happen to anyone if she could.
“It’s shocking what can happen to her. What happened here is shocking. So I’m here to support my family. I’m here to show love, support and solidarity. is.”
Anjum Mouge, co-chair of the London Black Women Project and in contact with Arena’s family, spoke to the crowd before vigilance.
She states: Steps she couldn’t take – she could see, it’s at a touching distance from her house, it’s at a touching distance, she can almost see her house And she couldn’t walk there. “
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Ms. Arena was “a wonderful woman and inspired us all.”
“She correctly believed that every woman should be able to go home safely, and today she started with her loved ones, and so many people from the local community and across the country. I have come to finish my journey. “
The alert took the form of a quiet walk along the route that Mr. Arena followed, but could not be completed “to safely return her to where she belonged.”
Attendees gathered at 1:30 pm on the other side of Cranbrook Rise on Cranbrook Rise, Ilford, and began their walk at 2:17 pm. This is the time when Arena was attacked in the morning.
Her family demanded that attendees wear white and remain “silent and gloomy,” as “we go home with Zara in our hearts.”
According to the prosecutor, Arena was dragged in, kicked, stamped and returned home from a night out.
Post-mortem examination revealed that she had multiple serious injuries.
Jordan Maxweeney, 29, from Church Elm Lane in Dagenham, east London, appeared in Old Bailey on Friday for attempted murder, attempted rape, and robbery.
He was detained without entering a plea.