Another Hastings Eulogy, from Sunday; Jo Cox R.I.P.

From Louise Hersee, many thanks:  

"On Thursday, a truly brilliant woman was taken from us.
A woman who made fighting injustice her life.
A woman who stood up for others when they were vulnerable.
A woman not afraid to say it as it is.
A woman who helped so many other women, both here and around the world in a bid to end the many forms of violence we see, hear, and experience, every day.
On Thursday we lost Jo Cox.
We shall not forget her.
We shall take inspiration from her.
We shall focus on her life, not her death.
We shall carry on her fight."

Jo Cox Vigil...

Congregating outside St Mary in the Castle yesterday afternoon...

Before we set off for Swan Terrace there were a few moving eulogies and speeches, we were filmed by the BBC, a local businessman gave out free bottles of cooled water, very kind, many thanks, and passers by mostly weren't really sure what was going on!

From the front, the 2 main organisers (I believe) and one of our mayors, leading the way, walking up the High Street to Swan Terrace. This photograph I have borrowed from the Vigil's facebook page, many thanks, as I was towards the back of the demo, though most of these images are my own.

Entering Swan Terrace, the Old Town's  Peace Gardens, in effect, and an image of the woman whose assassination, sadly, led to this demonstration, this afternoon, against violence against women, and in memory of Jo Cox.

Looking up towards where speeches and eulogies were again made by the event's organisers and our Mayor, and including one from our local C of E Parish Priest, who also stated that the Seven-Day Candle he was holding would be returned to inside St Clements Church, opposite, later in the afternoon, and where it continues to burn.

Finally, a photograph from the event's facebook page, many thanks again, looking back down towards many of those who attended (I estimated that 150 people attended at Swan Terrace), including me, though the foliage mostly hides me. A very good turn-out considering it had been arranged so swiftly: In Memory of Jo Cox R.I.P. 

And this was all captured by the BBC (from facebook), see video...   

Hastings Vigil in Memory of Jo Cox

Today, Sunday 19th June, there will be a demonstration in Hastings against violence towards women. Meeting at St Mary in the Castle at 2pm, and walking to Swan Terrace in the Old Town for a vigil in memory of Jo Cox. 

All genders are welcome in support.

Jo Cox R.I.P.

Now, I know she isn't a local, but, before I moved back down South, I studied, worked and lived in Yorkshire for nearly 16 years, and still have many friends up there, and the Yorkshire folk are a bit of a unique breed, so I am publishing something I wrote elsewhere because I believe this isn't just about the assassination of a Yorkshire politician, it is also about an attack on the social fabric of our country, wherever we live. 

70 years ago, British and allied forces landed in Europe to fight an evil, National Socialism, and British troops voted for, and returned to the promise of an end to the 5 evils described by Beveridge, with the introduction of the Welfare State, Full Employment, Education for all, and the National Health Service... 

This is what I wrote...

"Jo Cox, made in Yorkshire... someone proud to represent the constituency in which she was born, someone who celebrated the diversity of that multicultural constituency within the beauty of the county of Yorkshire.

She believed that "while we celebrate our diversity, what surprises me time and time again as I travel around the constituency is that we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us."
She promoted human rights, and worked with others, whatever their political leaning, for a more compassionate and tolerant world.
She was so much more a better person than her assassin.
My thoughts are with those who knew her, her husband, children and other family, her friends and colleagues, and her constituents.
Sadly, we are living in an increasingly evil and intolerant world, returning to the Dark Ages as we split apart...

Jo Cox R.I.P."