Upcoming Take Back the Night series of events empowers survivors of abuse
The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) is hosting their annual Take Back the Night series of events from April 6-17. The event is part of a global movement to end sexualized and gender-based violence. The WRC joined the movement with its first event in 1991.
Take Back the Night represents survivors reclaiming their power and creating a safe space to feel empowered to walk the streets at night.
Venus Shearer, a senior environmental studies major at Cal Poly Humboldt and violence prevention coordinator for the WRC, explained the various events being hosted throughout the two weeks that will be open to the public.
Some of them being legacy events such as the Survivor Speakout, a march, the Clothesline Project, the Mural Project and the rally. Then, adding new events this year including a self-defense class, intentional poetry night along with an anti-violence summit with College of the Redwoods.
“We’re going to be having the Clothesline Project and that will be some t-shirts we are hoping to be displayed in the quad,” Shearer said. “The t-shirts have different colors and meanings.”
Shearer also mentioned how there will be one main event happening on April 17, starting with a survivor speakout with guest speaker Tori McConnel, followed by a rally in the university quad, a march and then a silent vigil.
“After the rally, we’ll march down to the Arcata square and we’ll have our banner, we’ll have some chants going, and then hold a silent vigil,” Shearer said.
izzie Rodriguez-Torres, the director for the WRC, said the events will feature community partners including Humboldt Domestic Violence Services, North Coast Rape Crisis Team, Planned Parenthood and the Sexual Assualt Prevention Committee.
Shearer and Rodriguez-Torres emphasize the importance of creating a space for survivors of sexual assault and domestice violence to come together and know they are not alone.
“I think it’s important for survivors to feel heard, not feel alone,” Rodriguez-Torres said. “To have solidarity.”
For more information, visit the Women’s Resource Center Instagram page @humboldt.wrc or contact them via email at hsuwomen@humboldt.edu.
