The march on April 24 will seek to educate the community on sexual violence and create a platform for survivors of sexual assault to share their stories.
The Texas Tech University Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (Tech FMLA) serves to promote gender equality by raising awareness on topics including rape culture and intersectional feminism. The student organization will host "Take Back the Night" from 6:30-8 p.m. April 24 at Memorial Circle.
The march will begin on campus at Memorial Circle, travel down Broadway to Avenue X and return to Memorial Circle for a vigil. Before the march, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in poster-making. The vigil preceding the march will provide survivors of sexual assault a platform to share their stories, find solidarity and advocate for change.
Included in the event will be a local representation of the Clothesline Project, which helps to visualize incest, domestic violence and sexual violence statistics. Attendees will be allowed to decorate an item of clothing and add it to the display.
Taryn Rayburn, president of Tech FMLA said Take Back the Night is her favorite event the organization hosts at Texas Tech, and the goal is to provide all survivors with a safe and inclusive space to come together in solidarity, share their stories and declare enough is enough.
"This student-led event is our battle cry as survivors and advocates, and we hope both students and administrators make the decision to stand with us and take action to stop sexual violence," Rayburn said. "Our students have a right to both a safe environment and a zero-tolerance policy for sexual violence at our university. We, as Red Raiders, have the power to step up and put an end to the violence now by holding others accountable and, in turn, creating a space where we no longer have to 'take back the night.'"
The first Take Back the Night marches began in the mid- to late 1970s on the U.S. east coast to speak out against the abuse, harassment and violence women experience walking alone at night. Today, many student-led Take Back the Night events are hosted at college campuses across the country and around the world. Survivors tell their stories at vigils, often inspiring other survivors to come forward with their own story. Take Back the Night is foundational to Sexual Assault Awareness Month and gives the push to creating change on college campuses around the world.
To share the event on social media or see more details about Take Back the Night, visit the Facebook event page.
The Student Counseling Center and Risk Intervention & Safety Education (RISE) will provide resources at the event. Additional information about resources is listed below.
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RISE – http://www.rise.ttu.edu
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Texas Tech Crisis Helpline – 24-hour assistance (806) 742-5555
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Texas Tech Police Department – (806) 742-2000 or call 911 in an emergency
