On this day in 1981, around 150 women marched from Victoria Park to the city centre, demanding freedom from sexual assault and harassment.
From the StarPhoenix archives, from The Canadian Press:
An estimated 2,000 women, carrying signs and chanting slogans, marched through Montreal streets Friday night in a massive demonstration against rape and sexual abuse.
“The street belongs to us,” the women chanted. “End insults to our body.”
This scene was repeated many times in cities across Canada, including Saskatoon, as women organized Take Back the Night Marches to show their concern about rape and streets that are unsafe at night. …
“Each one of us lives with violence,” said organizer Rachel Belisle. “Not all women have been raped but we all live with the threat.”
Twenty-eight women’s groups were represented in the parade, one of 24 organized across the country Friday.
Demonstrator Jeanine Levert said she was marching “because I am a woman. I’m not afraid to go out at night, I’m over 50. But then, even if you’re not afraid, you can still be raped.”
“One march by itself probably does not make any difference in society’s attitude on a grand scale, but for individual women it makes them realize they are not alone and there’s a feeling of strength,” says Cindy Moriarity, a representative of the Ottawa-Hull Rape Crisis Centre.
“We’re saying women have the right to walk down the streets at whatever time without people thinking they’re asking for it.”
Laura Rowe, public education coordinator of the Rape Crisis Centre, said organizers chose an area where they can reach women in their homes and where there is a strong sense of community.
“It’s not a demonstration. We’re not interested in getting anything from either the police or government. It’s for women to get in touch with other women.”
The most conservative estimate shows one in 10 rapes is reported to police, Rowe said. There were 200 reported rapes in Toronto in 1980.
Throwback Thursday is a weekly StarPhoenix series where we revisit photos from Saskatoon’s past.
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