The UO Mujeres, a group of young Latina women, will act as the primary chant leaders and lead the march down the streets of Eugene in the Take Back the Night event April 27, their faces painted in stark white and black in the image of a skeleton to symbolize those who have experienced sexual assault and those who have not survived it.

Now in its 39th year at the UO, the event is the largest sponsored by the Women’s Center and Sexual Assault Support Services of Lane County and will be one of many around the world to spread the message of ending sexual violence and draw attention to the issue that after dark, people — particularly women — too often are not safe.

“One of the most incredible elements of our Take Back the Night rally, march and speak-out is how powerfully the march through the streets of Eugene symbolizes reclaiming marginalized people’s safety on public streets at night and the community and solidarity that is represented in that very act of resistance together,” said Fatima Pervaiz, director of the Women’s Center, which is operated by the Associated Students of the University of Oregon.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. at the Erb Memorial Union amphitheater with a rally where Rituparna Roy, the assistant director for sexual violence prevention and education at the UO will give her keynote address. Roy will discuss her belief that to effectively address the dynamics of interpersonal violence, “we must acknowledge and collectively commit to ending all forms of oppression.” The rally will also feature UO student groups, including the Women of Color Coalition, UO Mujeres and Sexual Wellness Advocacy Team, and community presentations from Planned Parenthood Revolution and local transgender activist Aneka Milaje.

The march will follow at 7 p.m., beginning at the rally and ending in downtown Eugene at the Atrium Building, 99 W. 10th Ave., for the Speak Out portion of the event.

Take Back the Night was founded in 1976 to raise awareness about the danger and frequency of sexual violence on campuses and in the community and to offer an opportunity for survivors of sexual assault to speak out and bear witness. College campuses, rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters are among the organizations that organize thousands of Take Back the Night events all over the country and the world on the third Thursday in April.  

A Safe Ride shuttle will be available from 7-11 p.m., and the event is wheelchair accessible and free to the public. Translation in Spanish and American Sign Language will also be provided.

—By Laurie Notaro, University Communications