An Ohio State student feminist organization sponsored a march down High Street and Chittenden Ave. last night to protest domestic violence against women.
“It’s really empowering for woman, especially because so much of our daily lives is consumed by violence or fearing violence and we feel that needs to come to an end,” said Annie Hollis, spokeswoman for Woman and Allies Rising in Resistance, the student group that organized the protest that began at the Wexner Center Plaza. “We hold this event every year just to bring to light and inform people of how much violence there is in this world and how much we can do to stop it.”
The international event, titled “Take Back the Night, ” drew about 100 people to the protest that has been held at OSU since 1978, Hollis said.
“I think it raises awareness of issues of sexual assault,” said Deborah Schipper, coordinator of WARR and of the OSU Rape Education and Prevention Program. “What it also does is it gives us a venue for survivors to see that they’re not alone. They have a chance to hear other woman speak out and a chance to speak themselves.”
The Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio, the Ohio Coalition on Sexual Assault, and the OSU Counseling and Consultation Services had tables where they passed out information to help victims of domestic violence cope with their experiences.
The OSU Counseling and Consultation Services group had an isolated area that allowed victims to speak confidentially with counselors.
Victims made T-shirts to express their feelings about their personal experiences, Hollis said. T-shirts had varying messages such as “Daddy why do you hit Mommy?” The shirts, along with shirts from past events, were hung on clotheslines around the perimeter of the plaza.
Several victims had the opportunity to share their experiences at an open mike and were followed by guest speakers from domestic violence organizations around Columbus.
The march followed with women from domestic violence organizations, victims and students walking down the sidewalks of High Street and turning onto Chittenden Ave. before coming back down 15th Ave. to return to the Wexner Center Plaza. At the end of the march, the women were rejoined by men attending the event but who were barred from participating in the march.
“I want to be able to show my support because all men should be here,” said Justin Penn, a student from Columbus State. “How are we going to change if we don’t come?”
A candlelight vigil ended the event where victims were allowed to speak once again about their experiences.
The event was held in memory of Andrea Dworkin, a prominent feminist and an organizer of “Take Back the Night,” said Maureen Havelka, co-chair of WARR.
It is important for college women to understand the violence they are faced with everyday, Hollis said.
“The majority of domestic violence happens in our homes,” said Tuesday Ryan Hart, a speaker from The Woman’s Place, an organization in Columbus. “We’re controlled by the fact that we have to go out at night with an escort.”
