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Marching for hope, healing and empowerment

Take Back the Night march starts at 7 p.m. from Gyro Park
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Penticton is rallying together for Take Back the Night.

“The purpose of Take Back the Night is to raise awareness of the violence and fear women face walking late at night and take a visible stand against violence of all forms,” said Katherine Harris, who from the South Okanagan Victim Assistance Society, in a press release. “This rally is a sign of hope, healing and empowerment for all those who have had their lives touched by violence. We all have the right to be safe, live without fear, and support each other through healing.”

Take Back the Night, also known as Reclaim the Night, originally began to raise awareness of the violence and fear women face walking at night and has evolved to include violence prevention and awareness of the violence that occurs on the streets and in people’s homes.

“While it is important to recognize that everyone can experience violence and abuse, women and girls are at a higher risk,” said Harris.

Organizers of the event welcome everyone to join them. Poster making supplies will be available at Gyro Park at 6:30 p.m. The march will start at 7 p.m. and will proceed through downtown Penticton and back to Gyro Park. Following the march, there will be an opportunity for people to share their experiences and express what Take Back the Night means to them.

This event is organized in partnership with South Okanagan Victim Assistance Society, South Okanagan Women In Need Society, Penticton and Area Access Society, Penticton & District Community Resources Society, Penticton and District Hospice Society, South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services, Pathways Addiction Resource Centre, Okanagan Nation Transition Emergency Housing, South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society, Birthright, The YES Project, and the Okanagan College Women’s Resource Centre.