Albany Law School's Pro Bono Program and the Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center will hold the 33rd Annual "Take Back the Night" rally against sexual violence today.
"Take Back The Night" started in 1976 in Brussels, Belgium as a candlelight protest against worldwide sexual violence against women. Kaitlin Wax is the Volunteer Coordinator and Family Advocate at the Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center: "It came to the United States actually at the first feminist conference on pornography in San Francisco’s Red Light District. Fast forward to when it started in Albany: it started with Albany's rape crisis center. They felt it necessary to start in Albany because of the violence that was happening here."
Women felt it was their job to "take back the night" from men who were committing acts of sexual violence. The event evolved into one including both sexes, with evening marches held nationwide. "Getting people to realize that this is an issue and reading our signs that say end sexual violence, safe campus safe streets, take back the night --- its effective in raising awareness and getting the issue heard.
Erica Nicole Rangel is the post-graduate pro-bono fellow at Albany Law School. She says this is the first time Albany Law has hosted "Take Back The Night." "I volunteered to host the program because of my involvement with project STOP and I see his as an opportunity for Albany Law School to become closer and more associated and more involved in our surrounding community and expose the community to the fact that we can be a really great resource to people who have been victims of sexual violence."
"Take Back The Night" is happening from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the law school's gymnasium.
The rally will include a march and vigil, as well as community agency tabling, live music, and poetry readings. "Daniel McCoy, David Soares, Sean Morse, Craig Apple and Karen Zeigler have all been invited to speak during our opening remarks period at 5:30."
Rangel and Wax say one in three women will be victims of sexual violence in their lifetimes. They expect the community will turn out in support of those victims.
Community agencies tabling at "Take Back the Night" include:
AIDS Council of Northeastern NY
Albany Medical Center
HIV Clinic
Albany Police Dept. Domestic Violence Unit
Capital District Gay and Lesbian Comm.
City of Albany Dept. of Youth
College of St. Rose
Empire Justice Center
Empire State Pride Agenda
Equinox
Family Planning Advocates
Girls, Inc.
Homeless & Travelers Aid Society
In Our Own Voices
National Organization for Women (NOW-NYS)
Northern NY Call To Men
NYSCADV
NYSCASA
Siena Women's Center
The Legal Project
The Pride Center of the Capital Region
U-Albany Middle Earth
U-Albany Project SHAPE
U-Albany RAD
U-Albany Sexual Assault Resource Center
U-Albany Sexuality Resource Center Gender and Sexuality Resource Center
U-Albany Women's Resource Center
U-Albany Criminal Justice
U-Albany Women's Studies - CATALYST
United Way
Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood
Whitney Young Junior Health
MenREACH
Women's Building
USCRI
WellCare
Albany Community Action Partnership
Capital District Educational Opportunity Center
Fidelis Care
NYS University Police at UAlbany
The Pride Center of the Capital Region
St. Anne Institute
Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region, Inc.
University at Albany Advocacy Center for Sexual Violence
??Performances by: Soul Rebel Performance Troupe, Inc. DJ Trumastr
Food: Slidin' Dirty, The Crisp Cannoli?
