Alternating between cheering loudly and crying freely, survivors
of sexual assault and their allies shared their stories Thursday
night and vowed to put an end to the violence.
They had gathered in De Neve Plaza for Take Back the Night, an
annual rally put on by the UCLA Clothesline Project during Women
for Change Week.
The event followed Clothesline’s three-day display in
Dickson Plaza of T-shirts made by sexual violence survivors and
their loved ones.
Co-chair of the event Valerie Edmon, who graduated from UCLA
last year, said it’s a call out to students and other members
of the community to restore what has become a negative environment.
“We’re literally taking back the streets, taking back
the night,” she said.
The event’s name also refers to the proactive combating of
sexual violence, Edmon said.
The five-hour event, which began in De Neve Plaza, consisted of
a rally, speakers, performers, survivor “speakouts,” a
candlelight vigil and a march through Westwood.
Speakers included poet Ami Mattison, activist Emi Koyama,
activist Gennifer Hirano, artist Erin O’Brien and poet
Ta’Shia Asanti, who are all victims of sexual violence.
They covered topics such as homophobia, sexism, classism,
militarism, racism and other issues that could lead to sexual
violence.
“Stop the violence, stop the hate. It’s really that
simple,” said transgender emo-hop singer Katastrophe, who
performed at the event. “Why can’t we all just get
along?”
All speakers emphasized the innocence of the victim and the
importance of dealing with the pain as part of the healing process.
Some said that those who survived needed to speak up for those who
did not.
“Let’s honor the voices of the voiceless,”
Asanti said.
Edmon said the speakers were chosen because they covered many
different issues and because their activism could motivate others
to follow in their footsteps.
While the T-shirt display was quiet, introspective and personal,
Take Back the Night was a unifying community event where supporters
of sexual violence survivors were able to voice their support,
Edmon said.
“We just need a place where people can come out and talk
about these things,” she added.
The atmosphere of Take Back the Night, she said, was meant to
inspire participants to help the cause, as well as to provide them
with guidance about how to do so.
Fourth-year psychology student Samia Bano said sexual violence
affects everyone including survivors, allies and the community.
“It’s a really important issue that I think needs to
be addressed,” said Bano, who volunteered with the
Clothesline Project this quarter. “Everyone has the right to
safety.”