1. Why take part in Take Back the Night?

  Take Back the Night is an opportunity to express how you feel and what you think about the violence and oppression women face. Whether it is anger, frustration, sadness or confusion, your feelings can be shared in a supportive environment. There is a place to express you thoughts on how to change our society that continues to allow violence against women.
We can agree that violence against women and children is wrong and that perpetrators need to be held accountable for their devastating actions. Then why aren't they being held accountable? Why are victims still being blamed for what was done to them?
Take part in Take Back the Night to show your support for survivors of violence.
Take part in Take Back the Night to gather together with fellow survivors.
Take part in Take Back the Night to share with your children the power of non-violence and community action.
Take part in Take Back the Night to send a message to political leaders, perpetrators and the community that sexual and domestic violence is not acceptable.

2. Is Take Back the Night a woman only event?

NO!
The core message of Take Back the Night is to end violence against women. Men need to be as part of this effort.
However, Take Back the Night needs to be a safe place for women, children and all survivors of sexual and domestic violence. For this purpose, the march is made up of two sections. One section is for women only and the other for mixed groups. When attending Take Back the Night, please march in the section that is appropriate and most comfortable for you.

3.When was Take Back the Night

first held in Duluth?

From what we can tell, the first Take Back the Night (TBTN) march and rally in Duluth was in 1981. TBTN was then held every year from 1981-1989, and then again in 1993. In 2001, PAVSA again brought together organizations in the community to organize Take Back the Night. Since 2001, PAVSA has coordinated a planning committee consisting of over 20 different community agencies, student groups and university departments. We plan to continue to organize Take Back the Night as long as the fight to free women from violence continues. If you have any additional information about the history of TBTN in Duluth, please contact PAVSA so we may update.


4.What is Take Back the Night?

Take Back the Night is a response to the violence and oppression women face in our society. The community comes together to march and rally in support of ending this violence and oppression. At the Pre-march activities, there is food, information and performances by local community groups. This is a family friendly way to learn and discuss ways to end violence and gather support from like-minded community members. We then march through the streets of Duluth, carrying signs and sending our message to the greater community. After the march we rally with speakers and performers. We end the evening with a speak out, where survivors and others affected by violence can tell their truths in a supportive environment.