The 18th annual Take Back the Night walk took to the streets of Barrie last night to highlight violence against women and children and the need to stop it.
Over 100 people packed the City Hall rotunda at 6 p.m. to listen to speakers and prepare for the TBTN march, a powerfully uniting walk that started at city hall and followed Collier Street to Ross, down Mary Street and east on Dunlop until it made its way up Mulcaster and back to city hall.
While being an international event started 1978, the Barrie chapter has been hosted for 18 years by Athena’s Sexual Assault Counselling and Advocacy Centre. Athena’s is made up of community members who are dedicated to not just ending violence against women and children, but also supplying shelter, support and counselling to women survivors of sexual assault. Athena’s works together with other shelters and programs under the organization Huronia Transition Homes which aims to eliminate all violence against women. Kathy Willis is the executive director of HTH and not only put together the TBTN event, but gave an informative and rousing speech at the start.
“This is one of our signature events during the year and it’s a lot of work for sure, but the passion for the cause is so strong we’re always glad to do it,” said Willis. “Take Back The Night is such a very important night because it exposes sexual violence and it’s root causes. The march itself is such a powerful way to bring the awareness of sexual violence to the community and say loudly that we’re not going to stand by and be quiet.”
After the speeches were done inside, the crowd grabbed signs and whistles and moved to the street. Barrie Police blocked off intersections and cleared traffic, but the lead pick-up truck was driven by Willis as activist and musician Faith Nolan played tunes and chants from the truck-bed. There has been controversy in the march for years as the walk itself is women only, but Willis explained that it’s not as divisive as some make it sound and the reason is very positive.
“It is women only in the actual march, but as you can see here tonight we have a lot of men who are supportive of their loved ones and want to show it,” said Willis. “The march into the streets is to give women a sense of liberation and unity; by having just the women do the walk it’s a way of saying that in fact we are taking back the night and we will not be afraid anymore.”
One of the men in attendance was Dan Stabb, who was here with his 4-year-old daughter. Stabb is like most people in that he is in disbelief that there is still a need to have to have these types of events, but he’ll be here until the violence stops.
“I came out with my little girl and to show support for women everywhere for this event,” said Stabb. “I needed to be here for my daughter and do what we can to end this so she can grow up in a city and world safely and without this ignorance and power-tripping attitude that some guys have. That’s what sexual violence and violence against women comes down to is the need for power and it’s just really sickening.”
While the main organization for the night was HTH, many other local groups got involved to lend support to the walk. The Elizabeth Fry Society had a booth set up and was spreading their information to those in attendance. The EFS mission is to assist individuals at risk in the community and help them in ways they need. Executive Director Joy Thompson gave her thoughts on the night and explained why the EFS felt the need to be present.
“Violence against women is the single most violation of human rights in our communities in Canada and around the world,” said Thompson. “When less than 2 per cent of women who experience sexual assault can get justice through our criminal justice system, we have no choice but to take it to the streets.”
With the march being downtown and in her ward, Councillor Rose Romita was in attendance and spoke of the importance of not only the event, but also of her being there and all women getting behind this cause.
“It's 2017 and we’re still asking for women to not be assaulted; that just blows my mind sometimes,” said Romita. “As a female councillor it’s imperative that I be here to not only represent the women of the area, but to show that I am not afraid to walk at night. There are women who are literally scared to walk through streets around the world and that should not be happening. This has to stop and it can only end if everyone speaks up, violence needs silence to survive.”
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