Published 2011-11-08T19:00:00Z”/>
Raquel Royers
Silence.
Between 200 and 300 people walked in silence Thursday night to spread awareness for those that don’t have a voice – women who have been raped or assaulted.
Take Back the Night is an event that the Gender and Sexuality Equity Center holds twice a year. The event aims for students, faculty and others to join together for activities and ends with a south-campus area march to shed light on the issue of violence against women.
The walk started at 8 p.m., and participants held signs and lit candles in preparation for the demonstration. Lined up two-by-two, people began marching from Trinity Commons to Ivy Street, West Fifth Street, Main Street and then back to campus.
The walking demonstrators stayed silent throughout.
“The reason why we are silent is because there are people who can’t march with us and don’t have a voice,” Women’s Program Coordinator Nikki Allair said. “Although we are silent as we march, we are not silent about this issue.”
During the walk, non-participants on the street yelled at and questioned the demonstrators. Fliers explaining the cause were handed to those who questioned the march so that the silence would not be broken.
Silence wasn’t the only thing that was not broken that night. The line of demonstrators continually walked, even through red stoplights, causing cars to wait for the walkers to cross first.
Take Back the Night is an important event because people seem to be unaware of sexual assault and rape in Chico, Allair said. It’s a taboo subject in society.
“We live in a rape culture, and it’s so embedded in us we don’t see it,” Allair said. “When you don’t want to go outside late at night, that’s rape culture and it’s been instilled in you.”
The Theta Chi fraternity supported the march by standing outside of its house on the corner of West Fifth and Ivy streets. Members held candles and stood in silence to show respect and support as the walkers went by.
It was really cool to see that the fraternity supported the cause, said Daniella Galaviz, a senior psychology major.
“I feel like rape is usually not talked about,” Galaviz said. “When you do try to talk about it, people ‘Shh’ you and it is silenced.”
The event highlighted the importance of reporting rape and other violent crimes.
“Hearing so many stories, seeing the violence and having friends that have been sexually violated, I think it is vital for us to come together as a community to show that we do not approve of this,” said Hannah Clause, a sophomore women’s studies major and GSEC intern.
Having Take Back the Night every semester aids the fight against a rape culture.
“It could happen to you,” Allair said.
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<strong>Raquel Royers can be reached at</strong>
<em>[email protected]</em>
