Women’s Affairs commission hosts march to combat power-based violence and features.
Onlookers gazed as a large group of students, residents and anyone else who wished to march down the streets of Athens, chanting and holding signs. Some might have been confused, but those marching just wanted to make a difference.
The Take Back the Night march is part of a weeklong schedule of events to raise awareness of power-based violence.
Sil Lai Abrams kicked off the event Thursday night, by presenting a keynote speech to bring visibility to survivors and problems surrounding power-based violence.
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Abrams is the founder of “Truth in Reality,” an organization that strives to “change the way women of color and violence are portrayed in the media,” according to its site.
She discussed her project, in her speech, titled “99 Seconds” referencing the fact that one woman is abused every nine seconds and that one woman every 90 seconds is sexually assaulted.
“The experience of being violated, of being assaulted — that strips away all and any barriers,” Abrams said during the keynote. “We unfortunately, for those of us who have experienced sexual violence or gendered violence of any kind, we — not due to our own desire — join a club.”
Abrams emphasized that no one’s experience of sexual assault or violence defines them or their lives.
“The first thing I hope that people got out of (my speech) is importance of them defining their story, of not allowing their past experience to define who they are … and to really understand the freedom and the power and the freedom that comes when you speak your truth,” Abrams said afterward.
Angel Walters, a senior studying political science, works with managing digital media for “Truth in Reality.” She worked with Madison Koenig, a senior studying English and Student Senate’s women’s affairs commissioner, tobring Abrams to campus.
“I really believe in advocating for others, advocating for those who have been hurt,” Walters said. “I believe in amplifying the voices of those who have suffered. I’m a domestic violence survivor myself and that’s one of the things that really attracted me to Sa Li’s mission.”
Several logistical problems arose for this year’s event, including moving the event from Porter Hall to Scripps Amphitheater.
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A miscommunication between event organizers and police caused the march to come to a halt for about nine minutes before participants could be escorted down Court Street and throughout campus.
After last year’s first inclusionary march, this year was also open to anyone who wanted to march, putting an emphasis on survivors marching in the front. Marchers chanted down the streets, such as “hey, hey, ho, ho, sexual violence has got to go” and “1, 2, 3, 4 I am not your f--king whore, 5, 6, 7, 8 use your hand to masturbate.”
Chris Caldwell, a worker in the African American Studies Department and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality program, helped to organize sideline support for the marchers. Caldwell is also a part of the Healthy Masculinities group on campus. Supporters chanted with the marchers, waved pompoms and held signs as they sprinted from one spot to the next on the route of the march.
“(As a male) I have a lot of societal privilege that a lot of people don’t have,” Caldwell said. “I can either do nothing, or I can support those who don’t have the privilege.”
Maria Condo, a sophomore studying theater and women’s affairs senator, participated in Take Back the Night as a sideline supporter.
“It was really great,” Condo said. “I feel pretty empowered myself personally and I thought it was great to see people getting out there and cheering them on and feel just support.”
Rachel Lewis, a sophomore studying communication studies, said it’s empowering to hear protestors who chant and support the same cause in rallies.
While she may be tired and the week is almost over, Koenig said she was “on a high right now.”
“I’m hoping next year becomes even more of a collaborative effort,” Koenig said. "Pretty much every one of our events has had some aspect of collaboration with an outside group … This march has the potential to become one of the most collaborative events that happens at OU and in Athens.”
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