Creighton University’s Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Center will hold its fourth annual Take Back the Night Rally, March, and after-event on Thursday, April 12, beginning at 7 p.m., on the steps of St. John’s Church on the Creighton campus.
Take Back the Night is dedicated to ending sexual violence in all forms. This survivor-centered event will include a rally with keynote speakers, including a featured student survivor of sexual assault and a featured student survivor of dating violence, followed by an “open mic” where survivors and their supporters can speak out and share their stories in this unique and open space. A march will the lead participants to the Skutt Student Center Ballroom for the after-event at 9 p.m., where attendees will travel between stations “doing” and learning more about violence prevention, consent, rape culture and how to be an active bystander. Also, “The Clothesline Project,” featuring T-shirts made by Creighton survivors, will be on display.
Last year, nearly 400 people participated on Take Back the Night with many Creighton and Omaha community members in attendance.
Coinciding with Take Back the Night is Denim Day. Denim Day encourages individuals to wear jeans in support of sexual assault survivors and against victim blaming after a rape conviction was overturned due to the victim wearing tight jeans at the time of the attack. Last year, over 4,000 Creighton community members wore denim and the Denim Day button to show support for survivors.
For more information, contact Lauren Ward, associate director for violence intervention and prevention at the VIP Center, 402-280-3794, or at LaurenWard@Creighton.edu.