The 100 Mile house & District Women's Centre will be hosting its annual Take Back the Night Candlelight Walk on Oct. 5.
Our doors will open at 6 p.m., and the walk starts at 7 at 475 Birch Ave.
We will have a drumming ceremony, hand out candles and placards for a short walk, and then we’ll come back to the Women's Centre for refreshments.
”Take back the night” is a symbolic statement for both women and men to confront the social violence that often happens in the dark. Started in 1976 in Belgium, the "walk" has grown to become an annual international event.
It’s intended as a statement to raise awareness of violence against women, to protest the way violence permeates the lives of women worldwide, and to change beliefs and attitudes in society, which lead to acceptance and/or denial of violence against women.
Violence takes many forms. Some are subtle, and most take place behind closed doors or at night.
Even in our small and friendly community, there are many who don't feel safe, women held hostage by violent partners, beaten with fists and/or words, women raped while walking at night, or on dates, children bullied, and people hurt because someone hates their race or sexual preference.
Our community’s Take Back the Night is a protest to all violence against women, children, men, First Nations, and all races and gender preferences.
We invite everyone in the community. Bring your friends and family and join us on the Take Back the Night Candlelight Walk to affirm the right to be safe, and then stay for the entertainment.
Begin being a part of the solution by speaking up to name violence. If you hear or see a neighbour beating their wife or children, or see a rape or beating in progress, phone the police.
If your friend at school is bragging about gay bashing or if you know of violence happening, speak up and let people know it isn't acceptable. Start being the change you want to see.
Karen Beresford is the women’s centre’s Stopping the Violence counsellor.
