Take Back the Night, a global event to raise awareness of domestic violence and share stories of survival, will be held Friday in Civic Space Park.
The event’s purpose is to give survivors of sexual and domestic violence a chance to speak out about all forms of abuse and raise awareness in the community, said Katelyn Baxter-Musser, clinical coordinator for the trauma healing services department of La Frontera Arizona EMPACT-SPC, which hosts the event.
“Historically, Take Back the Night has been a demonstration charged by feminists and grounded in the theory that men rape women,” Baxter-Musser said. “As our society becomes more culturally competent and trauma-informed, however, we know that all people, no matter their sexuality or their gender, experience forms of violence.”
La Frontera is a Tempe-based mental-health agency that offers individual counseling and 24-hour crisis services. The trauma healing services department offers services to victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse and other forms of abuse.
“Specifically, we try to advocate and educate for those that are the most at-risk, and so the main goal of the event is to educate the community and support the community and survivors,” Baxter-Musser said.
Liesl Lang, social media chair for Take Back the Night and trauma therapist for La Frontera, said the event will begin at 4:30 p.m. with a health fair featuring resource tables set up by approximately 30 organizations. Arizona State University and one n ten dance teams will also perform.
A candlelight vigil will begin at 5:45 p.m., during which survivors of abuse can share their stories. The vigil will be followed by a rally through First Friday at 6:45 p.m., Lang said.
Baxter-Musser said the rally allows event attendees to bring awareness to a greater number of people. Participants will sing chants and hand out flyers explaining the purpose of Take Back the Night.
Karen Bravo, who co-organized the One Billion Rising event that took place in Civic Space Park on Valentine’s Day, said she plans to attend Take Back the Night for the first time Friday.
“I think it’s important to keep the awareness going about the violence that’s going on,” Bravo said. “I don’t know if it’s just receiving more media attention lately, or if violence is happening more often, but it’s outrageous that this stuff happens in this day and age.”
Bravo said she found out about the event from the organizers and other people who plan to attend. She said it is important for people to be educated about domestic violence.
“I think they ignore it sometimes because it’s uncomfortable for them to deal with,” Bravo said. “What’s most important about Take Back the Night is that it’s bringing more awareness to more people.”
Devy Walker attended Take Back the Night for the first time last year. She heard about the event after reaching out to La Frontera for counseling, she said, and decided to speak at the event as a survivor.
“There’s camaraderie in community, in taking a stand for something that’s really important,” Walker said. “This is an opportunity to share your story in an environment where you will meet other people who are survivors who are thriving now.”
Walker said a mother with two teenage daughters had overheard her talking about Take Back the Night last year and expressed a desire to attend. The three women were all survivors of sexual assault.
At the end of the event, Walker saw the women speaking with a counselor.
“I just knew out of that meeting and out of that event, there was hope for them,” Walker said. “It offered them a place to go find out how to heal, and that is amazing.”
Contact the reporter at kimberly.koerth@asu.edu
