Sexual assault survivors at BU are ‘not going to stop yelling’

We spoke to people on the Take Back the Night march

On Friday, April 8th, a little over 20 people gathered on the BU Beach to take back the night.

If anyone saw these mysterious blue feet stencils near FitRec on Wednesday, this is why.

“I will walk with you.”

The rally started off with warm welcome from the members of BU’s Feminist Collective (FEMCO).

The event was separated into three parts: the breakout groups, the march, and the painting of the rock on BU Beach.

After separating into two breakout groups, my group’s conversation started with silence. What we were all there for, which was to support survivors of sexual assault and be allies, was not easy to talk about.

Tori Dutcher-Brown, the Public Relations coordinator for CGSA, stressed that the event was for the survivors and allies, and anything said in the breakout groups would stay in that safe space, confidential.

Hearing these brave women (and two men) talk about their experiences and opinions echoed my own thoughts on why the rally was so necessary. Hearing them talk about feeling unsafe on the street, and how they have struggled to be heard, come to terms with certain experiences, and ultimately heal, reaffirmed my beliefs in being in control of myself and my body and mind.

Then we all got up, grabbed signs, and proceeded down Commonwealth Ave.

We were met with shouts and car honks of approval by people on the street as we chanted:

We have the power!”

“We have the right!”

“The streets are ours!”

“Take back the night!”

When we returned to paint the rock, we were met by two slightly confused guys who just weren’t having it.

One of them claimed to have spent all day working on the rock, even going so far as to sit on it to prevent us from repainting it.

We did it anyway, and this was the final product

‘Fuck Rape Culture’

I asked why Take Back the Night was so important for people to know about and participate in.

Tori, Junior, Public Relations and Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies

Tori on the right

“Take Back the Night is so important because it is a historical way for, especially women, but for all people of all genders to raise their voices and not be silenced, as we so have been for basically all of societal existence. Rape and sexual assault is not talked about, survivors are not respected. Survivors are seen as instigators or part of the problem, when really the only problem is the people who invalidate someone’s being by assaulting them, and taking something from them. So Take Back the Night is a way for survivors and their allies to raise their voices without shame, and be visible. That’s why it’s so important that we march around campus. It’s so that people can see us, and know that we exist, and we matter, we’re not going to stop talking, and we’re not going to stop yelling.”

I also asked about The Center for Gender, Sexuality and Activism (CGSA) here are BU.

“It’s a student-run group here on campus. We serve as a resource center as well as a meeting place for individuals on campus, hoping to be a safer space. The Boston University administration does not have any sort of resource center or place for the people that we serve to go, so we are actually the only ones on campus that are there for LGBTQ+ students, Non-Binary students, Trans students, and all the intersectionalities of that such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, and everything like that. Our goal is just to, similar to Take Back the Night, be loud and be visible. Again, these people exist, and they matter, and they’re your friends.”

 

Jamie, Freshman, Social Studies Education

 “This march was important for me primarily because I have friends who are survivors of sexual assault. I really felt like it was important for me to stand up with them as an ally, just because there’s so much stigma around sexual assault that I feel like they feel like they can’t stand up for themselves. Just because of belief, or people don’t believe them and it’s such an issue. What I love the most about Take Back the Night is how literal it is. We’re literally talking about how people are going on the streets and feeling uncomfortable and unsafe, and here we are walking on the streets and actually marching against that, and I think it’s so incredible, that’s why I really wanted to be involved with it.”

 Remember, no matter what, don’t be silent.

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