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Local groups and residents are gearing up for the annual Take Back the Night event, a community gathering that aims to shine a light on sexual and gender-based violence and give attendees a space to voice their frustrations and hopes for change.
Jocelyn Enright, Prevention Education and Community Engagement Coordinator for the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, says the evening is about more than raising awareness. She emphasizes that the event is open to all genders and backgrounds, reflecting the movement’s evolution from its origins as a women-centered march to a broader call for solidarity against sexual violence.
The event, set for Thursday, September 18, in the Peterborough Square Courtyard, runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The early part of the evening, from 5 to 6:30, features community agencies providing resources and information to survivors and allies. Attendees can also create posters for the march later that evening.
This year’s theme, “Rage and Resistance,” recognizes the anger many feel in the face of ongoing sexual violence while also celebrating the power of coming together as a community. Participants will hear from speakers, enjoy performances, and take part in a candle-lit march through the streets of Peterborough. Enright says the event provides a space for attendees to process their emotions, connect with others, and collectively stand against the systems that allow sexual violence to persist.
Take Back the Night is free and open to anyone who wants to participate. With a march that carries the voices of survivors and allies through the heart of the city, the night promises to turn anger into action and solidarity into change.
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
