April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and in light of this, the Women’s Resource Center has ongoing activities to raise awareness and response to sexual and domestic violence. The highlight of these is “Take Back the Night,” an event that will be held Friday April 25. The Women’s Resource Center is collaborating with Sexual Assault Response Services (SARS), Family Crisis Center, Young Adult Abuse Prevention Program, Planned Parenthood, the Nursing Department, Outright and the GLBTQA Resource Center. The event will begin in Congress Square and last from 7 to 9 p.m.
“Take Back the Night” originated in Germany in 1973 following a rash of sexual assaults, rapes, and murders. The first U.S. “Take Back the Night” occurred in San Francisco five years later. “Take Back the Night” has been held in Portland since 1981.
Friday’s event remains true to the original concept, though it is more inclusive than in the past. Though the event originally only targeted violence against women, Master of Ceremonies Lyndon Cudlitz said the event has “progressed to include violence against anyone.” Of particular concern is violence in same-sex relationships. Cudlitz said the event is not for women only.
Event planning went smoothly despite the diversity of participating groups and the fact that most organizers were participating for the first time. Deb Dana, a representative from SARS, emphatically noted the “great working relationships” between groups. Her group developed a plan based on “blueprints” from earlier events. Posters and flyers are up around town, and local media outlets will be promoting or covering the event. A few weeks ago, the organizers agreed on a change of venue to Congress Square from Monument Square after anti-war protesters made headlines by camping out there.
“Not that we have an issue [with the protesters], but we want the two events to be seen as separate,” Cudlitz said. The decision to change the venue was made after discussion among organizers. Cudlitz noted that although the causes could be “connected in some way,” clarity of purpose was primary in the decision to move the event.
This year’s event will commence at 7 p.m. after a half-hour drum circle led by Resident Assistant Raheem Jammeh in Robie-Andrews Hall. After keynote speaker Diane Jenkins, there will be a performance by an a capella group and a skit by group YAAPP. At that point, one group will participate in a march while others stay to perform music. When the marchers return, the event will close with an open-mic session.