Although the sky was gray and the air was chilly, about 60 women and men joined together Saturday evening to protest sexual violence at Durham's first-ever Take Back the Night rally.
The event-which comprised several short speeches, a march through downtown and an open-microphone speak-out-was the first step in Rape Crisis of Durham's expanded efforts to prioritize community education in its mission to support survivors of sexual violence, said Kris Finlon, Trinity '97, who was project coordinator for the march and who is a volunteer at the rape crisis center.
"Essentially, we're trying to raise awareness about sexual abuse in our community," she said.
As the strong, lone voice of folk singer Julee Glaub rang through the civic center plaza, people trickled into the courtyard to listen to several speakers. Terri Allred, executive director of the rape crisis center, praised the "crowd of powerful women and men" for taking a stand against sexual violence.
Allred spoke about the beliefs held by sexual offenders, which, at their core, are based upon the objectification of others. "When one person is dehumanized," she said, "it calls into question all of humanity."
Speaking in place of Durham Police Chief Teresa Chambers, who canceled her intended appearance last week, Maj. Glenda Beard gave a brief statement that praised the rape crisis center for helping to ease survivors' pain and for providing 24-hour support.
David Rademacher, a sexual assault offender group leader for Family Counseling Services of Durham, spoke about the surprising "ordinariness" of those persons who commit sexual offenses and about the "difficult humanness of violence." Although sexual offenders alone are responsible for their actions, he said, everyone is responsible for creating and helping to sustain the societal pitfalls that allow acts of sexual violence to occur.
Lastly, Mandy Carter, a local activist for the National Organization for Women, relayed to the assembly a recent incident during which she heard a man whistling at her from across the street. She crossed the street, confronted the man and asked: "Why do you do things like that?" and "How would you feel if a man was doing that to your sister, wife or daughter?" Although she admitted that she did not know whether her action would stop the man from performing similar deeds in the future, Carter explained that she felt empowered after doing what she did. "Enough is enough," she recalled. "Let's try to stop" sexual violence.
Participants then carried their message of solidarity into the streets with a 1.2-mile walk down Gregson and Morgan streets, through Brightleaf Square and back to the plaza.
Although the event, which took three months to organize, was planned as a candle-lit march, the wind extinguished most of the candle flames. Marchers, however, still were able to spread their collective message with a purple banner that proclaimed "Take Back the Night" and with signs that read "Men Against Rape" and "No More Fear." Numerous chants-including "Hey Hey, Ho Ho: All rape has got to go" and "Sexists, Rapists, Anti-gay: Don't you take our night away"-were met with curious and puzzled looks by drivers and restaurant patrons.
Assembling again at the civic center, organizers set up an open-mic so that individuals could tell their stories and offer their opinions about sexual violence in a confidential and safe environment.
"Sexual assault isn't about sex," said Ian Lekus, a fifth-year graduate student in history, after the event. "It's about violence, about dehumanizing others and about not being able to love yourself and the people you know. I think the march was successful in raising awareness about these issues and, hopefully, will be the beginning of city-wide efforts to prevent sexual violence."
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