By Ephriam Carr
Staff Writer

Students and supporters march for “Take Back the Night” on April 24. Photos by Carlos Rodriguez-Picazo

Many Clackamas Community College students recently rallied for a “Take Back the Night” march.

Clackamas Women’s Services hosted a march in association with CCC during sexual assault awareness month. About 20 students marched the streets in Oregon City on Thursday, April 24 to proudly take back the night and provide support for survivors who may have suffered from sexual assault.

Randi Hurt, the head coordinator of the event and co-chair of the Psi Beta Club gave a brief speech to the students before they began marching. In a brief interview, Hurt further explained how the event was constructed to support victims of sexual assault:

“The event, in total, is for sexual assault awareness and sexual assault survivors to have a space that they feel comfortable enough to walk at night,” said Hurt.

Take Back the Night originated as a way for women to protest how unsafe they felt in public spaces. Since then, it has evolved into a global movement.

Erin Ritchie, an attendee of the event and a member of Clackamas Women’s Services, reflected on the march personally.

“Take Back the Night is just a really, like, historical event that’s been happening since the 70s,” said Ritchie. “That is, just, like, such a beautiful way to honor survivors and raise awareness about the issue of sexual violence.”

People in front of Wacheno Welcome Center listen to a guest speaker.

Women can often feel uncomfortable walking at night, as it is a time of day that is commonly linked with violence, or fear. One in three women worldwide experience some form of sexual violence or intimate partner violence, and one in six men experience sexual violence, according to Take Back the Night.

Jojo Miller, who also works for Clackamas Women’s Services and helped organize the event as the CCC Campus Advocate, spoke as to how the event can be meaningful to survivors of sexual assault.

“I think the march is really important because it shows survivors in the community that we care about them, that we care about what happens to them, and that we see them in their struggles,” Miller said. “And as well as their strengths and really honor their strengths and how much work it takes just to survive an experience.”

The event concluded with a candle lighting, where everyone present gathered together in a circle and shared a flame in the dimly-lit night. Hurt spoke in front of the small group one last time.

Hurt goes on to explain that no matter the turnout of the event, the goal was to create a safe space for members of the community.

“You never know what somebody is going through. So just making sure that students, and the community—because this is open, and we do have a few community members here — that they know that there is a space for them,” said Hurt.

The marchers begin moving away from the welcome center.