The need for a highly visible protest against violence has become sadly evident in recent years. For instance, a 1993 congressional record reveals that, due to fear of rape, women are eight times less likely than men to walk alone in their neighborhood. Moreover, most women refuse to use public transportation after nightfall out of fear of being assaulted.
Worse, statistics show that women's fears are well substantiated. A 1996 congressional report estimated that 25 percent of all women in the United States will suffer a violent sexual attack sometime during their lives. Another study showed that in 1990, the number of sexual assaults - the bulk of which are directed toward women - increased four times as fast as the total crime rate. In that same year alone, women reported more than 680,000 cases of rape. Clearly, the threat of violence has precluded many women from leading normal lives.
Falling in the midst of Rape Prevention and Awareness Month, Take Back the Night seeks to yield community-wide awareness of the problem of assault against women and to catalyze the movement to end violence. Past rallies included talks by sexual assault survivors, as well as presenters who list demands for making the streets safer. The march, through its high visibility, should also impress upon observers the severity of the problem of violence against women.
Recognizing the need to show unity against assault, the rally adopted inclusion as one of this year's themes, said Susan McGee, executive director of the Domestic Violence Project/SAFE House. In accordance with the theme, the Ann Arbor Coalition Against Rape sought allies for this year's event in other communities, in high schools and over the Internet. In addition, sponsors will provide vans so that women unable to complete the march on foot can actively participate.
Though men may participate in the rally, the coalition voted in 1995 to exclude men from the march in an effort to preserve the symbolism of a safe nighttime walk for women. Though this exclusion diminishes the underlying themes of unity and inclusion, the march still proves an effective way to assemble support for the anti-violence cause.
The 18-year-old Take Back the Night rally and march serves the dualistic purpose of heightening awareness of the prevalence of violent crimes and of solidifying communities against such assaults. Community members should support tomorrow's march - preferably through direct participation. Widespread participation will demonstrate intolerance for violence and will strengthen the call for a safer Ann Arbor.