By LAURA BORRELLI Staff Writer AND AILEEN BURKE News Editor
Attendees for Albany’s Take Back the Night event, began walking alongside many handmade signs, strewn on the lawn outside of Washington Park Lakehouse, on Wednesday April 17. This was the 38th annual event coordinated by the Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center
. Take Back the Night is an international event that is held to raise awareness about sexual violence. People around the world gather to speak up and say enough is enough. Sexual violence can happen anywhere, anytime and to anyone and needs to be spoken about in order to prevent future acts of violence. Rachel Wilson, one of the coordinators of the event was “blown away by the support” at this even each year. The Take Back the Night in Albany is one of the most attended.
Representatives from the University of Albany’s Delta Phi Epsilon house were in attendance, and the sisters look forward to attending this event every year. They are just one group from the local colleges that show up to take part in this annual event that is important to many college aged individuals.
“It’s about showing support,” said Michelle Wakefield. “My sisters support me, and we take this night to support everyone else.”
One participant in attendance, Ashley Reiske a graduating senior at The College of Saint Rose and a survivor of sexual abuse was extremely excited for event. This is Reiske’s first year participating and she was glad to experience the event and meet new people that have gone through similar abuse.
“I want to take a stance and be apart of an event in which women are supporting other women,” Reiske said.
As a survivor, Reiske believes in the importance to raise awareness of sexual abuse because there are so many different variations, but they each produce the similar effects.
“Today the media portrays sexual assault in certain ways, and we are here to give another perspective and open people’s eyes to the harm it can cause.”
The pre-rally began at 5 p.m. with free Take Back the Night shirts and water that led into a building with a complete resource fair inside; many local organizations and college offices tabled at the event. There was live music performed by Saint Rose students, Conor Walsh and Christine Bile, as well as Albany Women Drummers. The food trucks, Given to Fry and Pippy’s, were in Washington Park selling their wares to the participants. For the evening, the restrooms were gender neutral in order to create an inclusive and comfortable environment for all.
The master of the ceremonies, Tess Edwards, is a senior at The University of Albany takes part in the even to “create a safe world.” Edwards is also the President of an organization on UAlbany’s campus called Two and A Half, and their mission is to advocate and support victims and survivors of sexual assault.
Edwards began the ceremony around 5:45 p.m. and discussed the importance of individual action required in everyday of our lives. She introduced a few individuals who were crucial in the planning of this event.
Wilson spoke about the logistics of the event and the strength each and every survivor has for coming out to raise awareness and spread their cause. Daniel P. McCoy, Albany County Executive was actually not in attendance, something had come up, but a stand in came in and talked on his behave claiming McCoy “supports everything you are marching for tonight.”
“This is something that should be going on 365 days a year,” said Albany County Sheriff, Craig Apple. Working with many victims, he credits all the survivors coming out for the night. In his field of work he saw 17 out of 30 male inmates have been victims of sexual violence and turn to drugs as a way to cope because they fear coming out.
He emphasized the resources that are out their for victims of sexual violence, and the importance of utilizing those resources that are offered.
Andrew Joyce, the last speaker, is the Albany County Legislature Chair, and he believed it is important that the individuals in Albany are joining around the world to take a stance against sexual violence. “There are heartbreaking statistics on sexual violence, and it all about understanding consent.” Joyce is working with Legislature to create a bill for victims to take time off to relocate.
Liv McKee and Laura Evelyn both are performing artists and have a passion for poetry. They read poems about the effects, views and importance of raising awareness about sexual assault. They were followed by survivors that shared their story to empower others to take a stance and spread awareness about sexual violence.
The march, led by the Albany All Stars Roller Derby Team, was 1.22 miles and went from Madison Avenue, to Lark Street, to State Street to end up back at Washington Park. During this time all participants cheered and raised their voices together to say enough is enough. The march was followed by a candlelight vigil.
During the event there was a support staff floating around the event with teal lanyards that said support for people who needed to talk, or individuals showing nonverbal cues in which they needed help. Maddison Newland, a graduate student at UAlbany pursuing her masters in Social Work was one of the support staff at the event. Newland is interning at Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center, and is more than happy to participate in this event. Newland was in an abusive relationship and was unaware of the resources that she could have had. Support staff responsibilities include giving extra support or counseling and referrals if needed. Take Back the Night is extremely important, because it is a controversial topic that needs to be talked about according to Newland.
“I am dedicated to helping people who experienced domestic violence and sexual assault… I do not want others to go what I went through,” said Newland. “It is important to have people to stand in solidarity with survivors to show support that they thought they didn’t have.”
Amanda Wingle a campus sexual assault leader at Albany Academy Center and is an important figure in making this event happen.
“I am a survivor myself, and this event has a dual meaning for me,” said Wingle.
This event is important to her to bring the community together and is an opportunity to meet and greet with other people. Wingle wants to make sure “people take away the importance of supporting survivors, that lots of people are affected by sexual assault, and everything you say and does make a difference.”
