Members of the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Support Line and Leadership and the York Federation of Students marched at York for annual the Take Back the Night event on September 30.
The march began in Vari Hall, and proceeded through the campus and into the Village. York’s march was fully inclusive of all genders and wheelchair accessible, along with ASL interpreters for speeches.
“Take Back the Night was an opportunity to come together as a community and unite against sexual violence and show sup- port for survivors,” says Danalyn Byng, the research coordinator for SASSL. Various students clubs and organizations, including the South Asian Students’ Association and OPIRG York, attended the march.
The first Take Back the Night march took place in 1975 in Philadelphia. Citizens joined together to make a statement about street violence after a young woman was murdered by a stranger while walking home at night.
Since then, the movement has spread worldwide and has become a march in solidarity for all people across genders, abilities, and ethnicities to protest assault and sexual violence.
“This is a conversation that needs to be ongoing on our campus and in society,” says Byng. “SASSL is looking forward to future initiatives with collaborators and more opportunities to raise awareness.”
Marileina Pearson
Photo Editor
“This is a conversation that needs to be ongoing on our campus and in society,” says Byng. “SASSL is looking forward to future initiatives with collaborators and more opportunities to raise awareness.”
Marileina Pearson
Photo Editor
