April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention (MCVP) kicked it off with a night of solidarity and strength at its annual “Take Back the Night” rally event on Tuesday, April 2.
Students and community members assembled in Keene’s Central Square to show support for survivors of sexual violence. The rally included speeches and poetry readings by MCVP advocates, an original song, and an open mic for survivors to share their stories if they were comfortable. Tuesday’s rally aligned with Sexual Assault Awareness Month’s “Day of Action”.
MCVP Development Director Christy Keefe said the event is part of a broader effort to raise awareness surrounding sexual violence, consent and intervention.
“Everyone involved did a great job,” Keefe said.“We have so many talented people with experience in different aspects of trauma-informed care, and we were able to craft something really important to share with the community. It’s really been a collaborative effort.”
Keefe also highlighted the importance of changing the narrative surrounding sexual assault, particularly by believing survivors.
“These discussions are important for making change, and it starts with believing survivors, Keefe said. “ There’s this false idea that sexual assault reports are often false, when in reality only a two to 10 percent of reports are considered false. When those reports are considered false, it’s often a result of simple inconsistencies that can be explained by the way trauma affects the brain.”
MCVP maintains an external partnership with KSC to combat sexual assault and violence on campus. KSC Sexual Violence Prevention Specialist and Office of Violence Against Women Grant Director Catt Workman organized a walk from the L.P. Young Student Center to the rally. Participants were encouraged to wear teal in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence.
“This is a soft launch for what’s to come in the future as we plan more events and find new ways to bring awareness and support to campus,” Workman said..
MCVP Executive Director Mick Hirsch said the center’s goal is to provide community-based support.
“We work to bring a sense of safety, peace and belonging here. We want people to thrive here in partnership with their neighbors, and we just want people here to be as strong and supported as possible,” said Hirsch.
Advocate and Prevention Educator Alexis sang an original song at Tuesday’s rally and said the song was about taking back power and putting words to the experience of survivors.
[Because of the sensitive nature of their work, some MCVP Advocates are only referred to by their first name.]
“There was a survivor who this was inspired by, and we hear similar stories all the time in this work. I think I also drew from my own lived experiences, and I felt really honored to be able to share this and give words to the struggles so many of us are dealing with. It was a really special experience,” said Alexis.
Community member Travis Topa attended the rally and said the presence of organizations like MCVP and Keene Pride helped to make the city of Keene a better place to live.
“Considering what Keene used to be, it’s amazing to see how much progress has been made. Thirty years ago, it wasn’t uncommon to walk down the street and have someone harass you for being different. Seeing this today is really nice, and it goes to show how much things are changing,” Topa said. “The fact that people can come to events like this and hold signs and show support is really a step in the right direction.”
Senior and Film Studies major Emily Christian attended the rally and the walk from the student center. Christian attended the rally to capture footage of the event for a documentary about sexual assault she’s currently working on.
“Seeing all these people coming together brings everything full circle. It’s inspiring and powerful to see these people coming together in solidarity,” Christian said.
Ryan Pacheco can be contacted at
rpacheco@kscequinox.com
