More than 100 people marched down University Avenue on Thursday night to speak out against date rape and sexual abuse.
Supporters of Take Back the Night, an international movement that raises awareness of sexual assault and provides support for victims, participated in a walk that took them from the Plaza of the Americas to the Reitz Union, all to raise awareness about the issues of rape and sexual abuse.
“College students are especially vulnerable, and they don’t know what to look out for,” said Jennifer Stuart of the Counseling and Wellness Center.
Students ages 16 to 24 are at the greatest risk for sexual assault, according to Laura Kalt, an advocate counselor for the Alachua County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center.
“A lot of sexual assault occurs with acquaintance rape, date rape and through alcohol facilitation,” Kalt said.
One of the goals of the event was to dispel the myth that if women stayed inside at night, rapes wouldn’t happen. It started with women reacting to the notion that they shouldn’t have to live in fear.
“When sexual assault happens, it is never the victim’s fault,” Kalt said.
The walk ended with six volunteer speakers, five females and one male, who shared their experiences with rape and sexual assault.
“The sad reality is that anyone can become a victim at any time,” said Rocio Lopez, president of VOX, one of the sponsoring organizations.
Lauren Book, one of the speakers and a victim of sexual assault who faced abuse for six and half years from her female nanny, is walking 1,000 miles to raise awareness and gain support for victims. She started in the Florida Keys and will finish in Tallahassee in 39 days.
“I carry the names of victims in my pocket to make my voice stronger,” Book said. “Predators thrive in darkness and silence. Let’s bring light to that darkness.”
