Help Take Back The Night This Thursday

(KNSI) – Central Minnesota Take Back the Night will see a rally at Eastman Park and Lake George Thursday night from 6:30 to 9:00.

The annual event has worldwide reach, but Director of Service Staff Bri Cornell at the Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center says this area was one of the first to embrace it. The central Minnesota version dates back over 40 years. She talks about the purpose of Take Back the Night.

“We really have the purpose of unifying in awareness of violence against women, children, families, [and] sexual and domestic violence victims survivors to really take a stand against violence.”

Several other groups, such as Anna Marie’s Alliance and Zonta, will have tables set up, providing information about their organizations. There will be speakers and a reading of names remembering victims of domestic violence. Cornell says a march will follow.

“Once our speakers are done and everything, then we will do a march around the St. Cloud State neighborhood area and around downtown St. Cloud, and then we’ll come back to Lake George.”

Cornell says Take Back the Night raises awareness of the fear women feel when they are alone outside after the sun goes down, as that is when most sexual and domestic violence occurs.

Take Back the Night is one of the center’s highest-profile events of the year. They also work with Shear Dynamics in the spring to host a rally.

___