September 25, 2010
4:30 pm
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the annual Take Back The Night March for Fredericton Canada. Many women gathered to hear guest speakers and march around city hall with signs. TBTN is about violence against women and the fact that they shouldn't be afraid to go outside after nightfall. Colleen Thibodeau, a volunteer at their crisis center and a victim of sexual assault herself said, "Sexual assault and violence must be eliminated so all women can walk safely on our streets, which is our basic right as members of society." Program coordinator for the center, Jennifer Gorham, spoke to the crowd about violence against women in Canada and in other countries all over the world. Gorham's goal is to shed light on this subject and get people talking about it.
I chose this article for two reasons. First of all, I had never heard of the town Fredericton until right now, and secondly, when I think of sexual assault and violence against women Canada isn't exactly the first county that comes to mind. Take Back The Night is an amazing concept because it doesn't just focus on what we as women can do to keep from becoming victims it also focuses on the fact that we shouldn't have to be afraid. Just because a woman is walking down the street alone at night doesn't mean she's asking to be attacked. Some men should have more self control. In different parts of Europe, such as Italy, Germany, and England, this march is referred to as "Reclaim the Night," and it was started in the last 1970s. Similar marches can also be seen in Australia and India. It has become a wide spread global event over the past 30 years.
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