Last Friday (yeah, I know I’m a little late in reporting on this, but apparently Short Term is a lot busier than I expected…) I went with a group of Batesies to Portland to participate in Take Back the Night. This rally/march/event was a great way to show support of survivors of sexual assault, and to recognize that sexual assault continues to be a problem.
One of the things I love about being politically active in Maine is that you not only begin to recognize faces, but also you get to be close to the “big wigs”. Not only are the US senators’ offices in Lewiston, but there were Maine state representatives at our rally in Portland. We were marching alongside the a few policy makers and elected officials chanting together. We marched around about a 2-block radius in Old Port, and the vibe amongst us was really inspiring. Maybe even more so were the supporters who cheered us on as we passed by on the streets, from the sidewalks and the second-story apartments.
This (quick) march was sandwiched between opening remarks by local advocacy groups and great musical performances at the beginning, and ended with testimonials from participants. These individuals were so brave to stand in front of a group of almost all strangers and share their experiences with sexual assault, either as survivors or supporters of survivors.
The Bates group decided afterwards that it would be a good idea to get ice cream at Cold Stone afterwards, kind of an uplifting activity after something somber (although very inspiring– to not only get involved, but also to recognize the strength we have). Waffle cones and shakes later, we were in the van on the way back to campus.
