Hundreds unite to take back night

Friday, June 5, 1998

Hundreds unite to take back night

RALLY: Women’s Resource Center sponsors event; survivors give
testemonials about abuse, violence

By Barbara Ortutay

Daily Bruin Staff

In 1971, a group of women in San Francisco wanted one night out
of the year when they could walk down the streets without fear.
They called it "Take Back the Night."

Year after year, the tradition continues nationwide. Women and
men concerned with abuse and violence gather to stand up against
it. UCLA’s Take Back the Night, sponsored by the Women’s Resource
Center (WRC), drew several hundred people Thursday night.

Robin McDonald, co-organizer of Take Back the Night and rape
prevention coordinator at WRC, said she was saddened to see that
Take Back the Night was a divisive event when she came to UCLA
three years ago, as political disagreements had led to a separation
between participants.

"It was really important that this Take Back the Night be a
place where everyone comes together, no matter what group you’re
affiliated with," she said.

She added that the event not only welcomes women of all races,
ethnicities and sexual orientations, but that men are also highly
encouraged to attend.

"If men aren’t side-by-side with us, violence against women will
never end," she said.

She added that men, particularly gay men, are also victims of
domestic violence, and men are also victims of childhood sexual
abuse.

While in the past the event took place in April, this year Take
Back the Night occurred later to coincide with the Clothesline
Project, which is also sponsored by WRC. The project presents a
collection of t-shirts created to commemorate survivors and victims
of sexual violence.

UCLA’s own collection of shirts occupied one of the
clotheslines. Each shirt color represents a different form of
abuse.

Organizers wanted to include victims of sexual harassment in the
categories, in addition to the existing categories of child abuse,
gay-bashing and domestic violence.

"It really pulls you in," McDonald said. "You can’t help but be
moved by the shirts, to the point of taking action, and that is
what Take Back the Night is about."

The event took off in Westwood Plaza, with drumming and a spoken
word performance by two UCLA students D’lo and Kimmy. A
self-defense exposition strived to empower women to take control of
their bodies.

Later, students marched through campus up to Rieber Hall, where
the event continued with speakers, including Brett Wheeler, a
representative from WRC.

Testimonials by survivors of abuse added a solemn air to the
night, and the event was capped off with a moment of silence to
remember those who died as victims of abuse.

The theme of this year’s Take Back the Night was "united voices
break the silence."

"UCLA needs something that brings all women together. It affects
all of us," said co-organizer Dawn Bond.

Many participants of the three-day Freedom City at Royce Quad
joined Take Back the Night as their event came to a close.