Friday, Aug. 12, 2011
Take Back the Night
Now a staple on college campuses, the earliest Take Back The Night marches were held in the '70s in response to a spate of violent crimes against women. Two independent marches occurred in Philadelphia in 1975 and in Brussels in 1976 as women with candles walked through the streets at night. The march has since focused more directly on sexual violence and even made the leap from movement to official organization in 2001, under the initiative of Katie Koestner. One part vigil for women who've been touched by violence and one part protest against that violence, Take Back The Night marches are held annually in cities around the world.