Raising awareness
By Jennifer Palmberg
The Collegian
Take Back the Night was first
held in Germany in 1973 as a response to a series of sexual assaults,
rapes and murders. It wasn’t adopted by the United States until
1978 when the first event had more than 5,000 women from 30 states participate
in the march in San Francisco.
Take Back the Night has been an annual tradition at Fresno State for more
than 20 years and that tradition continues this Wednesday.
During the day student groups and victim services organizations will set
up information booths that offer educational material to students.
In the afternoon, a rally will be held near the Free Speech Area featuring
speakers who will be offering facts about violence against women and information
on how to reduce incidents and avoid victimization. In the past, the rally
has also featured speakers who have been victims of domestic violence
and want to share their stories to warn and educate others.
The event also includes a candlelight vigil march around half of the campus.
The march is designed to raise awareness about domestic violence.
According to endabuse.org, one in three women worldwide has been a victim
of assault, rape or murder with most crimes occurring at night. Thirty-one
percent of women report being physically or sexually abused by a husband
or boyfriend at some point in their lives. One in five women will be raped
and pregnant women are more likely to be victims of homicide than to die
of any other cause, the Web site said.
Anyone who is female or has a female relative or friend can be affected
by violence against women.
Take Back the Night was organized by Student Life and begins Oct. 19 at
4 p.m. in the Peace Garden.
More than 200 people are expected
to attend according to event coordinators.
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