Toronto’s 30th Annual Take Back the Night

“30 Years of Resistance, 30 years of Liberation”

TORONTO- The Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape (TRCC/MWAR) host the 30^th Annual Take Back the Night (TBTN) protest and march on Friday October 22, 2010 at Dundas Square in downtown Toronto.

Take Back the Night is about bringing visibility and exposure to the impact of sexual violence in women’s lives. It’s a space created to ensure women and children can take up space and get our voices are heard.

Sadly, we have been marching and protesting for 30 years. And violence against women while, has been brought into the mainstream awareness, still persists in the lives of women, trans people and children every day. The Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape has been fighting the rape culture we live in while supporting survivors as the violence continues. While laws have been enacted, while sexual assaults are taken seriously in certain contexts, violence becomes stronger in our culture and implicit violence becomes more pervasive. “Forms of institutional violence like police not believing women, the system of evidence collection in sexual assault cases, raids in our shelters for non-status women, all maintain a culture of violence” says deb singh, Counselor and Activist at the TRCC/MWAR. “We need to see that things haven’t got better, more women are being sexually assaulted and are being silenced every day”.

We demand our rights to safety, and lives free of the fear and perpetration of violence, Aboriginal rights, equal status for all women, safe affordable housing, rights for sex trade workers, de-criminalized prostitution, safe shelters, health care, child care, education, employment, raising social assistance rates by 40%, immigration status for all and raising the minimum wage now. We as survivors demand lives free of sexual violence, murder, living in poverty, police injustice and any violence that is directed towards women and children. Without access to a safe place to live, an adequate income, child care and other community resources, women are being left to face violent situations. 

“The TBTN march is an event organized by feminist grassroots, anti-violence & anti-oppression activist groups all around the world with a focus on safety for women and children.” says Grissel Orellana, TRCC/MWAR outreach & community development. A rally and protest march has been organized. The march is for women and children only, men are encouraged to attend in solidarity, by participating in the other activities, including the provision of childcare so their partners, mothers, sisters, and aunties can march.  TBTN is a Trans -Positive, wheelchair accessible event with ASL interpretation, childcare and refreshments.

You can be a part of Take Back the Night by spreading the word to every woman you know. Women can also participate by attending our Take Back the Night planning meeting on __________^th at the TRCC/MWAR.  You can further participate by marching with us on Oct. 22^nd. The Community Fair begins at 5pm, Rally begins at 6:00pm, and the march at 8:00pm.

We are aware that we are marching on the Sabbath.

The Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape is a non-profit, grassroots womanist/feminist organization committed to fighting violence against women and children. Our vision is to work towards the eradication of all forms of violence against women and children from all races, social & economic classes, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, ages, disabilities/differences, religious, spiritual, and political beliefs.

Contacts:

deb singh

Take Back the Night Co-Coordinator

416-597-1171 Ext. 230

E-mail: trcc@web.net