Frigid temperatures Tuesday evening didn’t stop nearly a dozen women and men from marching down Main Street in an effort to help end violence against women.
Take Back the Night saw marchers make their way from Pioneer Square and back. Colleen Arnold, executive director of the Women’s Resource Centre, led the way with her megaphone and chants.
“This event is geared towards empowering women to confront fears about rape and assault by reclaiming the evening streets,” Arnold told the marchers prior to their departure.
Marchers held pictures of some local women close to their hearts as they remembered loved ones lost to violence.
“We aren’t just here to reclaim one night,” Arnold said. “We’re here to fight for our safety every night of every week of every month of every year.”
In Canada alone, Arnold told the crowd, 460,000 sexual assaults happen every year.
“Of every 1,000, [there are] 33 reported to the police, 29 are recorded as a crime, 12 have charges laid, six are prosecuted and only three lead to conviction,” she said. “That means that 997 assailants walk free.”
Survivors of sexual assault and violence against women are “incredibly powerful and inspirational,” said Arnold.
“They help us know that we are not alone and that there is a tremendous need to end sexual and domestic violence.”
Arnold invited area residents to spread the message of ending violence against women.
“We invite all survivors of violence, supporters of survivors and advocates wishing to eliminate violence from our communities to join us,” Arnold announced. “Together we can shatter the silence and stop the violence.”
The Take Back the Night march reiterated that violence against women impacts an entire community.
“It is important that we work together to challenge violence and it’s detrimental effects on our community,” Arnold said.
Marchers proceeded south down Main Street under the glow of light posts and storefront signs.
They read out chants such as “Women united will never be defeated” and “Women unite, take back the night.”
The march made a left turn onto Angel Avenue, the former section of Third Avenue renamed in honour of victims of domestic violence. It concluded back at Pioneer Square.
The march coincided with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the first day of the international campaign 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.
It was also part of the Women’s Resource Centre’s events marking Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Take Back the Night, a movement with marches held across the globe, was sparked by the death of Susan Speeth, a Philadelphia woman who was attacked by a stranger as she walked back from work at night.
This year marked the fourth Take Back the Night event in Flin Flon.
