“Violence against women continues; it exists. Do not deny it. Do not cover it up with excuses and justification. Acknowledge it and unite together to fight it head-on. To call out the perpetrators that cause us fear. The systems that hold us back, and the limits that society puts on us as an attempt to keep us in our place. Please join me in a moment of silence as we commemorate the lives of women lost, and we work towards change.” – Jessica St. Peter, Take Back the Night.
On Sept. 24, 2015, Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis hosted their 28th annual Take Back the Night rally and march. Supporters gathered in a circle in Marianne’s Park at around 6 p.m., in a beautiful spot by the river just behind the Boathouse Tea Room.
Take Back the Night is held annually to raise community awareness and fight back against sexual violence. As people gathered to rally together, music and guest speakers helped to empower the crowd with inspiring words on behalf of the march that would follow later that evening.
Before the march began, Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis’ Jessica St. Peter delivered a speech that moved the crowd, reminding them of what they were preparing to march for that night.
“We’re here tonight to remind ourselves that we are worth it; that we are worth the continued work towards change,” said St. Peter. “We see the smiles on the faces of the people around us, the power within them that they have brought tonight to share. And then there are those of us who are drained, broken down. Yet, we continue to fight the challenges of life, and we come to events like this to soak up your strength, to recharge our batteries so we may be inspired for yet another year.”
Marianne’s Park was decorated with a Wall of Stories, where pieces of paper were displayed with various messages on them. Participants were encouraged to write down their own feelings towards sexual violence as well as their feelings towards Take Back the Night’s impact.
In her speech, St. Peter introduced the Wall of Stories to the crowd:
“Behind me is our Wall of Stories,” said St. Peter. “Our stories illuminated, in a time where far too often we are silenced, shamed, and humiliated for speaking out, and when we do speak out there’s often this sense of fear that we have to be aware of. The wall of stories was an amazing idea that Emma Kelly initiated in our community.”
St. Peter went on to introduce guest speaker, Lynx Sainte-Marie, an activist, poet, and educator. Sainte-Marie touched the crowd by sharing a personal story involving sexual violence, as well as pieces of poetry. Sainte-Marie’s words projected rawness and honesty, and they transcended the crowd as the sun began to set and the group prepared to march together through the streets of Downtown Guelph.
The crowd marched down Gordon Street towards the downtown core, and continued up to Quebec Street to come back down to Marianne’s Park. People of all ages participated in the walk, and as the crowd moved through the streets, passers-by joined in from sidewalks from all directions.
By the end of the walk, the crowd had grown to about twice its initial size just from citizens joining in at various points. Support was given from car-horns, while shouts from apartment windows and clapping from pedestrians echoed approval. The crowd was provided with safety whistles before the march, which they blew throughout the streets, alongside drums, to make as much noise as possible.
Chants were shouted, including “A dress is not a yes!” and “No more violence, no more hate!”
Overall, Take Back the Night offered a unique and inspiring community experience for citizens in Guelph, and the event continues to up its crew of supporters each year.
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The Ontarion publishes independent, student-produced news, opinion, and commentary for University of Guelph students so that they can make informed decisions in their lives. To do this, The Ontarion provides learning opportunities and training in journalism, media production, leadership, board governance, and other aspects of nonprofit news.
The Ontarion is the University of Guelph’s independent student newspaper. It began in 1951 as part of the Ontario Agricultural College and then began to represent the entire University of Guelph once it amalgamated in 1964. The Ontarion incorporated in May 1970 as The Ontarion, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation registered with the province of Ontario.