Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
Volume 54 • Issue 40
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Marchers hit the streets to take back the night THOMPSONITES TOP TWO AT ART SHOW ARTS - PAGES 6-7
ELECTION COVERAGE NEWS -PAGES 3, 4, 5
Thompson Citizen photo by Ian Graham Thompsonites took to downtown streets Sept. 24 to bring awareness to the issue of violence in the community and society BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
RUN FOR MUMS RAISES $2,500 LETTERS - PAGE 4
WELL HELLO MOLLY! MEET THE CITIZEN’S NEW REPORTER VIEWPOINT - PAGE 4
The disturbing prevalence of violence against women and against people in general was highlighted Sept. 24 at Thompson’s annual Take Back the Night walk, which started at Robin’s Donuts and saw people concerned about the issue march through downtown to bring awareness to the safety of the community’s streets. The first Take Back the Night march was held in San Francisco in the late 1970s, modelled after previous protests in England and Germany in-
spired by the fear women had walking around at night because of the threat of violence and sexual assault. One in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, said Kim Hickes, executive director of the Thompson Crisis Centre. “It’s time to take back and demand respect, dignity and equality so that each and every one of us and our children and our children’s children and so forth are able to feel safe and be in a society that will have zero tolerance for violence,” said Hickes. “I look around
here and I see many of these faces at many events and I can feel the passion and commitment and I truly believe that that is what creates the energy that drives the momentum to action. So thank you everybody for taking the time to stand here and represent all that Take Back the Night means.” The city was represented at the event by Mayor Tim Johnston, who said the people who attended were making a statement about the kind of community they want to live in. “By being here you’re
sending a very loud, clear message that as a community we’re not going to accept domestic violence, as a community we’re not going to accept sexual exploitation of our youth, and as a community we’re going to stand up and make sure we are safe for all residents,” said Johnston. Danielle Adams spoke on behalf of Churchill MP Niki Ashton, who was unable to attend. “This year, like every other year, we remember the aboriginal women and many from the north that have gone missing or been murdered,”
said Adams. “We recognize that we must stand together, walk together and work together to end violence against women.” Sharon Kent of the Sexual Exploitation Awareness Team told participants that sexual exploitation and violence go hand-in-hand and that it is everyone’s responsibility to put an end to both. “If you guys see anything that doesn’t sit well with you, anywhere in this city, if you know of anybody that’s being exploited, make those calls,” said Kent.
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