Earlier this week, we saw the perpetrator of the Southport attacks pleading guilty to three counts of murder and ten of attempted murder, along with two terror-related charges.
Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were horrifically killed, and our thoughts remain with their families and loved ones.
This guilty plea at least spares survivors having to go through all the details again but of course it doesn’t take any of the pain away. What matters most now is getting justice done and respecting the memories of the victims.
The statement below is an unprecedented show of solidarity with with families from other families who have gone through similar things—but it’s also a call for anyone thinking of using these murders to incite hatred or violence not to do so.
– Brendan Cox, cofounder of The /together Coalition, Survivors Against Terror, and one of the signatories of the letter.
Full text and signatories:
“Today saw the start of the trial of the alleged perpetrator of the Southport murders.
The details of what happened are horrific. Most of us will simply not understand how anyone could have perpetrated such crimes, especially against children.
To the families who are going through this, we want you to know that we stand with you. As people who represent and work with victims and survivors of extreme violence, we want you to know that your loved ones will not be forgotten, that we support your demands for justice and that we will help you keep the legacy of your loved ones alive.
Many of us have been through similar trials and we know how hard they are for everyone involved. For families you worry that the person you hold responsible may get off on a technicality and escape justice, or that your grief will be hijacked by people for their own ends.
That’s why we also want to appeal to the public. If you want to help families at their darkest moment, please keep the focus on the victims and survivors, tell their stories, remember their names.
Whatever you do please don’t speculate on the details of the trial or do anything else that could put the legal process at risk. Justice is what matters now.
And of course, please stand with us against anyone who tries to hijack the pain of this awful crime to drive hatred, violence or a political agenda. If you want to do something practical, please consider donating to the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital who treated so many of the victims.
Crimes like these shake the foundations of our society. And they should. But what matters now is how we respond; to surround the families with love and ensure that justice is done.”
- Survivors Against Terror, a national organisation representing hundreds of survivors and bereaved families of terror attacks.
- Killed Women, a network of bereaved families of women killed by extreme male violence.
- Ben Kinsella Trust, a charity that tackles knife crime through education and campaigning. Ben Kinsella was just 16 years old when he was stabbed to death in a horrific act of senseless violence on 29th June 2008.
- Support After Murder and Manslaughter, a national organisation working to support families after murder and manslaughter.
- Fawziyah Javed Foundation was set up in memory of Fawziyah Javed whose life was brutally cut short alongside her unborn baby at Arthur’s Seat Edinburgh on September 2nd 2021.
- Believe in Bee, a foundation that supports vulnerable persons who have suffered domestic violence. The organisation was founded in memory of Bianca Martina Thomas who passed away at the age of 25 after being a victim of teen domestic abuse.
- The Megan Newborough Foundation, a foundation created by the parents of Megan Newborough, who was murdered at the age of 23 in 2021.
- The Table of Love and Loss, set up by Ayse Hussein in memory of her cousin who was brutally murdered.
- Making Herstory, an organisation set up by Onjali Rauf, whose aunt was killed by her husband. Making Herstory works to end all forms of male violence leading to the abuse, trafficking and murders of women and children in the UK and beyond
- The Kelly Fitzgibbons Foundation, a charity that provides information, advice and guidance as well as practical and emotional support to families who lose loved ones in traumatic circumstances. The charity was created in memory of Kelly Fitzgibbons and her two daughters Ava (4) and Lexi (2), who tragically died with gunshot wounds in March of 2020.
- Global Acts of Unity, a campaign promoting unity in schools, set up by Mike Haines whose brother David Haines was murdered by ISIS in 2014.
- Building Bridges for Peace, founded by Jo Berry after losing her father was killed in the IRA terrorist attack on Brighton.
- Secure Life, set up by Nour Norris after her sister and niece were killed in 2018.
- Rebecca Rigby, wife of Fusilier Lee Rigby killed in 2013.
- Bee the Difference, a research project designed by and for young survivors of the Manchester Arena bombing.
- Resilience in Unity, a counter extremism organisation set up by a survivor of the Westminster Terror attack.
- Margaret Mizen, mother of Jimmy Mizen who was murdered in 2008.