Take Back the Night rally and march in Kitchener this evening
Posted Sep 22, 2016 07:38:52 AM.
Last Updated Sep 22, 2016 07:42:45 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Members from our community are calling on you to end gender-based violence.
The 33rd annual Take Back the Night rally and march takes place in Kitchener this evening.
Sara Casselman, executive director of the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region says in 2014, Waterloo Regional Police responded to over 600 calls for sexual assaults and other sexual violations.
“That represents about 10 per cent of sexual assaults that are actually happening in our community. Sexual violence is pervasive and Take Back the Night is one of the ways the community addresses sexual violence.”
Casselman says that the last year and a half have shown that it is still difficult for women to come forward.
“The Ghomeshi case for example, what we saw there is that women’s personal lives were really put out there publicly so it is a challenge to come forward.”
Casselman says this year’s rally will have a special focus on violence again indigenous women.
Members from The Waterloo Aboriginal Education Centre, the Aboriginal Student Association at the University of Waterloo, and the Mino Ode Kwewak N’Gamowak (Good Hearted Women Singers) will be taking part.
The rally begins at 6 p.m. at Carl Zehr Square with the march following at 7 p.m.
More information on the Sexual Assault Support Centre can be found here.
