Can Cairns Reclaim the Night for safety this Halloween
October 31, 2008 by Megan · Leave a Comment
Tonight marks the 32nd anniversary of an organised movement to keep the streets safe for our women and children rather than asking women and children to stay indoors for their own safety.
All over the world, the last Friday in October is, Reclaim The Night. This year it just happens to fall on Halloween. Cairns tonight celebrates Halloween and Reclaim the night by offering a free dance party (child friendly and family focused) at Foggarty Park, Cairns Esplanade (Pier end). Hosted and facilitated by Family Planning Queensland’s (FPQ) Sexual Assault Counselling service, the evening is sure to be a winner.
From 5 to 9 pm, there are prizes for the best Halloween costume and goodie (Trick or Treat) bags (or are they called “Baddie” bags on Halloween) to the first 100 participants. Air brush face painting (now that is uber cool), food and dance demos, why would you stay indoors tonight. Reclaim the Night and take the family to the safety of Foggarty Park.
Reclaim the Night march – a peaceful demonstration against men’s sexual violence toward women and children. Traditionally the march has been a women’s only space – a space for healing and solidarity. Interestingly enough, while reported sexual assaults increase, the marches have been reducing in numbers over recent years.
Reclaim the Night began in Rome in 1976 as an organized reaction to astronomical figures of reported rapes (16000 per annum). Marches followed in 1977 in West Germany and in England. In Leeds (U.K) women marched against the curfews imposed against them because of the ‘Ripper Murders’. Angered by police advice to stay indoors, they marched with torches through the town and challenged men in the street, asking them where they were at the time the “Ripper” killed Jacqueline Hill. Support marches occurred simultaneously in 11 towns, from Manchester to Soho.
‘Take Back the Night’ marches in the USA were first held in 1978 as a symbolic statement of commitment to stopping the tide of violence against women and a demand that perpetrators be held responsible for their actions and be made to change.
Women from Ireland, India, Canada, Germany and Holland have also marched through their cities to Reclaim the Night.
In Australia, Reclaim the Night marches were first held in 1978.
From: Calling Non-Violent Men to Reclaim the Knight, by Megan Bayliss, 2006
Tonight marks the 32nd anniversary of the Reclaim the Night movement. Why, after 32 years of social “safety” control of women and children, are we still often asked to stay indoors at night time? Imaginif has zero tolerance for violence or control. Cairns has a very low tolerance and we have some marvellous groups working to end crime and overcome fear of crime. These groups will be representative at FPQ’s Halloween Dance Party this evening. This town will Reclaim the Night by dancing in the streets and looking after each other. Will you show your face and hand as supporting NO MORE SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
Teddy Tour: FPQ was happy to have the Teddy Tour display at the Halloween Dance Party. I was organised to take the Teddies down for the street dancing but there has been a slight change to my family life. Remember when I had to disappear to Brisbane because my foster children’s mother died? There is a memorial service for the kids Mum tomorrow morning on the Tablelands and I am required to do family stuff with them this evening. Dependent on time I have to leave for the Tablelands this afternoon, I may not even get to the park to settle the teddies and their story tags. At the Crafty Survivors group this morning, I will be encouraging the participants to take over and to go to the Dance Party with the Teddies. If I am unable to attend at all, I will be there is spirit. THANK YOU to FPQ for hosting a great idea and for letting the Teddies came and dance the night away too.
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