Emotions of empowerment, freedom and relief radiated from one woman as she gave her personal account of domestic violence on Wednesday night to a crowd of about 150 who gathered to “Take Back the Night.”
Baton Rouge’s 19th annual Take Back the Night Candlelight March brought various groups together in a common effort to raise awareness of domestic violence and violence against women.
Susan Murrell, coordinator of the children’s program at the Battered Women’s Shelter, said the initial concept of the march was for people to speak out against fear of being out after dark.
“We think we should be able to go out at night and not have people tell us to ‘be careful, it’s dark,'” Murrell said. “People, especially children, shouldn’t be afraid to go out at night.”
She said the march evolved into sending a message about potentially violent situations for women and children, and having a public display of disapproval gives others hope.
“One of the things keeping domestic violence going is secrecy,” Murrell said. “No one’s supposed to talk about it, but if women can come here, they can see there are people to talk to.”
She said not all women are able to attend the march because it is publicized.
“Some people wouldn’t be safe here because their situation may still not be safe,” Murrell said. “It’s usually the most dangerous for a woman when she does decide to leave.”
Joni Hanks, a social work graduate student, became involved in the march through her internship this fall. She said she did not know much about the march until she started putting it together.
“It has really opened my eyes to the problem,” Hanks said. “This can happen to every race, every gender and every economic class.”
She said there are many reasons why someone might stay in an abusive relationship, but a lot of it has to do with fear of what will happen when they leave. The march not only shows people they will have support if they get out, but also gives reassurance to women who did get our of their relationships.
“Women who have survived domestic violence and have been through it can come here tonight and know they’re not alone,” Hanks said.
Hanks and others at the march lit a line of colored candles before the procession to honor all the women who currently suffer, have survived or died from some sort of violence.
Among those remembered were the six known victims of the Baton Rouge serial killer.
Kathy Saichuk, University Wellness Center coordinator and one of the march’s organizers, said calling out victims’ names was an effective way of demonstrating that domestic and other forms of violence can have a fatal outcome.
“It’s a very powerful few minutes because, sadly, there are that many people who have died from violence,” Saichuk said. “Some [murders] are still unsolved, and I think this is an opportunity for men and women to show their support and desire to speak out.”
Adam Setliff, a general studies senior and member of Men Against Violence, said having men take an active voice against all forms of violence shows they support the cause as well.
“Men are usually involved with violent situations,” he said. “I don’t respect men that abuse women or fight just to fight, but I’m not attacking them, either. I just want to be more educated about this and communicate it to other men.”
After a proclamation from Mayor Bobby Simpson declaring October 2003 Domestic Violence Awareness month, the solemn crowd lighted small white candles from the colored candles.
They then walked two miles with candles and homemade protest signs chanting “take back the night” and “we won’t be beat.”
Shelia Cole, a Battered Women’s Shelter non-resident counselor, said the signs were made by past and current residents at the shelter.
“They’re for the women and children who can’t be here tonight because of fear or because they just recently got out of a situation,” Cole said.
She said as a formerly battered woman, she likes knowing people want to stand up against domestic violence, and she dedicated the march to all those who put in time to volunteer at shelters and help programs.
“As we try to tell every battered woman, someone cares,” Cole said. “This proves there are people who do care.”