The event was part of a nationwide movement called Take Back the Night, where people take a stand against violence against women. Senior Lisa Dzera was one of the students who organized the event.
“Groups of women began the Take Back the Night marches in the early 70s and made a significant impact,” Dzera said, “However, it is obvious that there is still so much to be done.”
Juniors Catherine Mulqueen and Savannah Peters brought the Take Back the Night movement to UNC’s campus. Peters said she helped organize the march because the issue of sexual violence is so prevalent.
“We are excited to bring back this powerful movement to UNC’s campus, where the threat of male-pattern sexual violence affects us every day, throughout our lives and at even higher rates on college campuses,” she said.
Peters said the march is a way to raise awareness about sexual violence.
“We will not stand for the street harassment, for having to constantly plan our lives around staying safe, for the victim blaming, for the inability to really trust male acquaintances, friends and partners, and for the lack of action against what is a public health epidemic affecting over half of the U.S. population at unacceptable rates,” Peters said.
Many of the participants were female students, like first-year Addison Troutman, who said the event brings people together to fight for a cause.
“It’s about women coming together and finally saying no and saying the safety we deserve and how we’re tired of the inequality,” Troutman said.
