7th Annual Take Back the Night

Posted by Take Back the Night Coalition on March 20, 2017

Philly’s 7th Annual Take Back the Night begins organizing & Planning for this year’s event

When: Thursday April 27, 2017 | Marches begin at 5:45 pm
Where: Four marches will begin at various points throughout the city and converge at the First Unitarian Church at 2125 Chestnut Street at 6:15 pm.

North Point – Meet at the intersection of 22nd & Fairmount Sts.
South Point – Meet at the intersection of 21st & Washington Sts
East point – Meet at the intersection of 12th & Walnut Sts.
West Point – Meet at the intersection of 40th & Chestnut Sts.

What: A march, action, and speak out, raising awareness on and supporting survivors of sexual and domestic violence. A space for survivors to be seen, heard, and listened to in a safer space which acknowledges the importance of breaking the silence, story sharing and connecting as a means of healing & regaining power.

Who: The Take Back the Night Coalition and organizing committee members. See a list of our coalition members on our website: http://www.tbtnphilly.org

Event Details: Participants will meet at one of the four meet up locations and march together to the First Unitarian church where they will combine for a rally and “Bust the Myths” street action outside the church. The event will continue inside the church with a speak‐out and story sharing of survivors & support people “Breaking the Silence” about their experiences with domestic and sexual violence from 6:45 pm ‐ 10:30 pm. We will end with a candle light vigil at 10:30 pm in remembrance of those lost to & still living in violent situations.

Tables & resources for survivors will be set up by supporting organizations in our coalition.

Background: This incarnation of Take Back the Night was started in 2011 by staff and clients of Jefferson’s outpatient addiction rehabilitation services. All members of the original organizing committee identified as survivors of violence and people in recovery from addiction. Some of our mission goals and commitments include creating access to survivor resources and actions which extend beyond the reach of most campus events. It is important to us that this is a diverse, survivor‐ led event that supports access to healing and changing the narrative of our society’s victim blaming culture. We use various mediums of expression to reduce the stigma of talking about violence and being a survivor of violence.

We want all survivors and their supports to know: ‘You are not alone’, ‘It was not your fault’, and ‘We are not broken’.

Why it’s important to get involved:
‐ Every 107 seconds, a person in the United States is sexually assaulted (http://www.rainn.org).
‐ 4 out of 5 sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim (http://www.rainn.org).
‐ At least 1 in 7 men have been a victim of domestic violence (http://www.ndvh.org).
‐ At least 1 in 5 women have been a victim of sexual assault (http://www.rainn.org).
‐ Currently, there is no data available on the rates of sexual assault in refugee and immigrant communities. Since so few refugee and immigrant women report sexual assault to authorities, we estimate that this number is significantly higher [than the general population]
(http://www.wcsap.org/refugee‐and‐immigrant‐community).
‐ 64% of all transgender individuals experience sexual violence in their lifetimes (http://www.nclrights.org).
‐ Two‐thirds of women in the military who report sexual assault, experience retaliation (http://USAToday.com).
‐ Only 2% of rapists spend even a day in jail. (http://www.rainn.org)

This is an epidemic. We can do better.

Ways to get involved:
1. Make a donation. We need materials such as candles, signs/posters, etc. All left over donations will go directly to organizations throughout the city which support survivors of violence such as Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR), Victory Over Inconceivable Cowardly Experiences (V.O.I.C.E.), & Pussy Division (PD).
2. Promote any and all forms of social media and information found below.
3. Come out to any or all parts of our event.