March symbolizes zero tolerance for violence against women

by Jessica Hathaway

"No more silence, stop the violence!" "We've got the power, we've got the light! The streets belong to us at night!" "Whatever we wear, wherever we go, yes means yes and no means no!"

Residents of 18th Avenue ventured out of their homes on the night of Oct. 16 to witness a crowd of more than 100 peaceful but loud protesters en route from Belmont University to Vanderbilt's Peabody Campus. The marchers were part of the third annual "Take Back the Night" event to end sexual and domestic violence, sponsored by the Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center at Vanderbilt, Students for Women's Concerns at Vanderbilt, Belmont University and the YWCA.

The event began beneath Belmont University's carillon with a symbolic ringing of the bells; each chime representing a woman currently being battered, raped or killed. A woman is physically abused by her husband every nine seconds in the United States, and four women are killed every day by a husband or boyfriend, according to information provided by the Employee Assistance Outreach Program at Vanderbilt.

Organizers distributed purple ribbons and small pen lights to the group of participants, most of whom were female, but included a few men and several families. Brightly colored T-shirts decorated by survivors of domestic violence and their family members were on display as testimonials to the impact of violence against women. Life-sized maroon silhouettes donated by the local chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women memorialized women who had died at the hands of boyfriends or husbands.

"This is more than a rally and more than a march. This is a time to say we hear you," said one woman as she shared her story of an abusive relationship.

After several personal testimonies and a solo rendition of "Amazing Grace," sung by Sarah Buxton, the march to Magnolia Lawn began. The group's chanting grew loud as marchers linked arms and spread out across the roads cleared of traffic by Metro Police. Volunteers carried the silhouettes, and those whose hands were free waved tiny points of light in the darkness.

Linda Manning, director of the Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center, welcomed the marchers when they arrived at Magnolia Lawn.

"'Take Back the Night' is about awareness, empowerment and healing," she said. "Especially healing. We are here as a group to do that."

Manning invited participants to share their stories of domestic violence.

Several women told of how they had survived an abusive relationship, offering hope to those who were still struggling. Some told the stories of friends and family members, while a few young women shared their own tragic incidents for the first time in their lives. One male participant voiced a pledge to stop verbally abusing his female friends.

The event ended with a call to action from Sandra Harrell, coordinator of outreach and services of Project Safe, a program aimed at combating violence against all women on campus.

"Where do we begin to create a world where this is not acceptable?" she asked. "We must bear witness to these atrocities."