After a hastily-organized Take Back the Night event in Minden Sept. 21, organizers are planning to be back bigger next year in what they hope to make an annual event.
With Rails End Gallery drummers in attendance, the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton gathered people on the grass outside Canadian Tire before leading them on a march on the river walk.
Director of philanthropy, Tina Thornton, thanked Haliburton County-based organizers and attendees.
“Thank you so much all of you. This started off as just an idea about a week ago and we managed to pull together, and I couldn’t be more excited. I am looking forward to hopefully having Minden as an annual event.”
She read an address from executive director, Kim Dolan, who was at another event on the night.
“We gather in solidarity knowing that our collective presence honours the experiences of women-identified people and girl children who’ve experienced gender-based violence in our streets, workplaces, institutions, and homes for too long,” Dolan said.
“Despite our efforts, since the 1970s, gender-based violence is affecting more women, happening more often, and becoming more violent. This means that more women are afraid, more women are being harmed, and more harm is happening. The threat of violence silences us, but not tonight.”
Dolan added that gender-based violence does not discriminate, for perpetrators or women, no matter their gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, health, abilities, social and geographical location.
“The power of women telling one another their stories of violence and sexual assault weaves a net of resilience, defiance, outrage and hope. The telling of our stories speaks truth to power. The telling of our stories shines a light on misogyny, colonialism, racism, transphobia and societal and institutional systems that perpetrate violence. Telling our stories weaves a powerful net of solidarity.”
