By JACKSON WANG
Executive Editor
Entering the campus gymnasium at Albany Law School Thursday evening, dozens of people could be seen frozen, shock, and speechless. One by one, a survivors would come up to the stage, grab the microphone, and deliver their stories on how they were assaulted and how they survived through that trauma.
Behind the stage, dozens of t-shirts were hung up, each one having a different message written on it about sexual violence. And along the outskirts of the stage and audience, there were about a dozen tables, each offering help, information, and support on sexual assault.
This was the scene at the 33rd annual “Take Back the Night,” an event organized by the Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center. The purpose of the event is to raise public awareness and educate the community about sexual violence.
“We find it necessary to keep raising awareness about the issue,” said Kaitlin Wax, volunteer coordinator and family advocate for the Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center. “So when we march through the streets with our signs and our loud voices, people come out to see what it is all about.”
“Take Back the Night” is a nationwide event that started back in the early 1970’s as a response to public silence surrounding the crime of rape. Albany County has been holding the event for over 30 years. April has also been declared sexual assault awareness month by the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
“Spreading that word and spreading the message is why we do it,” Wax said. “We’re raising awareness about the issue.”
The evening began with a pre-rally event, which included communities tabling, presenting items on sexual assault, and a performance by Soul Rebel Performance Troupe. Also, B’yond Style Hair Salon was on hand to give out hair extensions, along with Slidin’ Dirty Food Truck, which provided gourmet sliders and appetizers.
After that, welcoming remarks were delivered, and then followed the survivor speak-out.
Dozens of Saint Rose students took part in the event, including senior Tinamarie Stolz, who was the moderator of the survivor speak-out. Stolz delivered several messages and stories of her own that were related to sexual assault.
“No one wants to stand up to it,” said Stolz, on sexual assault.
She called up multiple survivors to share their stories. One of the survivors was a 17-year-old student at Albany High School, who said she was assaulted by a stranger while on vacation with her family in Florida the summer before she entered high school.
“It think it’s just incredibly brave and it takes a lot of strength,” said Wax, on the survivors speaking out.
Another Saint Rose student who took part in the event was Gerald Moore. He said it was important for him to be at “Take Back the Night” because domestic violence strikes close to home.
“I felt like this is something I needed to be a part of and something I need to spread awareness on,” Moore said.
After the survivor speak-out concluded, the event hit the streets of Albany with a march from Albany Law School to Washington Park. Dozens of people carried signs that delivered messages on sexual assault. After the march, the event wrapped up with a candle vigil.
“It’s good to see a lot of people come out and support a good cause,” Moore said. “It’s very good to have awareness spread out so that we know what’s going on in the world and so we can prepare to stop it and find ways to help people that are in need.”
