It was equal parts solemn and empowering for women in Penticton Wednesday night, as a few dozen people gathered in Gyro Park to Take Back the Night.

The annual walk, organized by the South Okanagan Victim Assistance Society and the South Okanagan Women In Need Society, brought mostly women, though several children and a few men showed their support.

害羞草研究所淪omething exciting that we do every single year is women take to the streets and we take back the night, something that a lot of us feel very strongly about,害羞草研究所� said SOWINS executive director Debbie Scarborough.

Related:

The event is in support of women who have been victims of violence outside at night, and demands safety for women in the streets at night.

害羞草研究所淵ou could probably interview 100 women anywhere from all demographics, and I would say probably 98 out of 100 would say they wouldn害羞草研究所檛 feel safe walking the streets, for example, at four o害羞草研究所檆lock in the morning,害羞草研究所� Scarborough said.

害羞草研究所淥f course, if we do and we have the misfortune of getting assaulted, it害羞草研究所檚 like 害羞草研究所榳hat were you wearing?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

Scarborough scolded the societal tendency to point to the clothing a woman was wearing at the time of a sexual assault.

害羞草研究所淚f you were running and you were wearing shorts and maybe a short shirt because it害羞草研究所檚 hot, we get, 害羞草研究所榃ell why were you wearing that?害羞草研究所� like it害羞草研究所檚 an invitation, and that害羞草研究所檚 just wrong, no matter what we wear, no matter what time.害羞草研究所�

At six feet tall, and with some boxing skills under her belt, Scarborough said she still doesn害羞草研究所檛 feel safe in parts of Penticton.

害羞草研究所淚f I don害羞草研究所檛 feel like it害羞草研究所檚 safe for me everywhere, then what does the average height female feel?害羞草研究所� she asked. 害羞草研究所淚f we make it safe for women and children, we make it safe for everyone.害羞草研究所�

Related:

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls hearings with the federal government have started up again, recently holding hearings in northern B.C., and that has struck another poignant chord for Scarborough.

害羞草研究所淐oming from Terrace, and knowing some of those individuals that are on the murdered and missing or the Highway of Tears,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淲hen we come out and walk we walk for those that are no longer here beside us walking, that have lost their lives to violence, and that are still missing.害羞草研究所�

dustin.godfrey@pentictonwesternnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .