CORNWALL, Ontario – For the sixth year in a row women, girls, boys and men in Cornwall marched through the streets to stand up against violence against women.
The Take Back the Night march took place on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017 and was organized by SASS, Interlude, Maison Baldwin House, the Akwesasne Family Wellness Centre, the Seaway Valley Health Centre and Victims Services.
More than 50 people marched down McConnell Ave. starting at 7 p.m. with escorts from the Cornwall Community Police Services.
They were carrying banners, signs and chanting through the streets that violence against women must be opposed.
Prior to the event, there was an opening ceremony. To start, Tae ys Benedict, a youth from Akwesasne lead the assembled crowd in a prayer.
Two women, Stephanie Nadeau and Suzanna Neville got up to tell their stories of dealing with physical and sexual violence.
“We’ve always thought to keep things quiet,” said Neville. “But by keeping these things quiet, we don’t give ourselves a chance to heal.”
Nadeau explained that nights like these are important in affirming a commitment to making the streets feel safe.
“I come here year after year and sometimes this is the only night that I feel safe walking the streets,” she said.
