People gathered in Dunn Meadow with posters and signs to prepare for the silent march.
They then formed a line, led by a few holding a large white poster, boldly stating “Take Back the Night," and walked to the Monroe County Courthouse in silence.
The assembled group Thursday night consisted of members of the Feminist Student Association and other organizations. The march, part of the annual Take Back the Night event, aimed to spread information about activist groups, share personal stories and raise awareness about sexual assault and domestic violence.
“It’s about empowering women to take back their sexuality and own their bodies,” said Crimson Corps member Lydia Porter.
Crimson Corps, a campus mental health organization, joined in the event organized by the Feminist Student Organization. National Organization for Women, RAISE, Protective Order Project and It’s on Us also joined.
The night began with students gathering around tables to learn more about these organizations, sifting through t-shirts available for purchase and designing posters for the march. Then survivors came forward to speak about their experiences with sexual assault and abuse, surrounded by supporters holding burning candles in the darkness of Dunn Meadow.
“The goal of the event is to raise awareness to issues like sexual assault and domestic violence and to provide a safe space for victims to share their experiences,” Dawson said.
Feminist Student Association serves as an educational program for IU students, and offers presentations, debates and panels on feminist issues.
“We are a political organization that takes a stand on feminist, social and political groups,” said Celia Dawson, communications director of Feminist Student Association. “FSA is an intersectional group that also fights oppression of gender, race, sexuality and class.”
Dawson said Take Back the Night, and the Feminist Student Association as a whole, wants to be a voice for people who are too often silenced by institutions.
Ibby Ahmed, co-director of the sexual well-being committee for Culture of Care, came to Thursday's march for just that.
“A lot of us are very scared to even be in Wells late at night alone,” Ahmed said. “So a lot of this is just about empowering us to take back the night, essentially, and be free to do what we want.”
