The footsteps of numerous demonstrators will be heard this week as the K-State Women’s Center hosts its annual Take Back the Night march, an event acknowledging that women are disproportionately unsafe at night and that works to reclaim that right. The march aims to raise awareness and promote safe environments for all community members.
Take Back the Night
K-State’s Take Back the Night event will be held Wednesday, April 30 at 8:30 p.m. The march will start at the Riley County Courthouse, 100 Courthouse Plaza, and will end at Bosco Student Plaza. The event is open to the public, including families, children and men.
Last year, according to The Collegian, approximately 30 people participated in the march. The group marched through campus and Aggieville chanting “Women united will never be divided. We have the power, we have the right. The streets are ours, take back the night.”
According to the Take Back the Night Foundation website, participants have attended events and marches since the 1970s. One of the initial marches occurred in Philadelphia, Pa. in October 1975. The march was prompted by the murder of microbiologist, Susan Alexander Speeth, who was stabbed to death while walking home alone.
The foundation is an international initiative seeking to create safe communities and end sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual abuse and other forms of sexual violence.
Other marches have been held across the globe in Belgium, Germany; Rome, Italy; West Germany; Australia; Canada and more.
Fear V. Truth
This year, an informative discussion and Q-and-A session called Fear V. Truth will be held at the Riley County Courthouse at 6:30 p.m., prior to the march.
Guest speakers and survivors will speak at the Fear V. Truth presentation at 7 p.m., following music and refreshments. Afterward, there will be a panel Q-and-A discussion at 7:30 p.m., poetry reading, T-Shirts and networking. The march will leave from the court house at approximately 8:30 p.m.
