Take Back The Night 30th Anniversary
On November 1st 1980, a young woman of 35, stepped to the front of a tentative crowd at Portland, Maine’s first Take Back the Night March. She was nervous but filled with the fire of feminism. And to those assembled she began what amounted to a call and response speech. Each time she paused, the crowd responded –
"We say no more!"
She began with the words – "I want to send a message tonight to a few people and institutions (and this list is by no means exclusive) – and that message is –
We say no more!"
Amazingly the words of her speech have been located and the tragic part, with the change of a few names, those words could and will be repeated at the upcoming 30th anniversary march. Tragic because the pledge we took that day is as alive as it was then.
"We will not stand by while violence is perpetrated on any one of us – for violence to one woman is violence to all women."
We are hopeful too because we did and will stand together to fight violence against women. Please stand with us after 30 plus years, on April 29th, at 6 pm, again in Monument Square, those words will ring out once more – and Lois Galgay Reckitt will once again lead us in response…
We say no more!
Portland’s 30th Annual "Take Back The Night March, Rally and Speak Out will take place on April 29th at Monument Square, downtown Portland starting at 6:00 pm. This event helps to break the silence that surrounds sexual assault and promotes healing to those who have been impacted by it. After a rally in Monument Square, community members will march through the Old Port and speak out about sexual violence.
Rain Location: First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 425 Congress Street, Portland, ME.
The event is sponsored by Sexual Assault Response Support Services of Southern Maine and co-sponsored by the City of Portland and Portland Police Department. Partnering agencies include: Family Crisis Services, Florence House, University of Southern Maine – Women’s Resource Center and Campus Safety Project, Preble Street Teen Center and Center for Preventing Hate.
