Take Back the Night returns to Winnipeg's streets

Dozens reclaimed their space on the streets of Winnipeg on Monday night for the annual Take Back the Night rally and march.

After a two year hiatus, the event to condemn violence and the societal structures that enable itreturned to the University of Winnipeg campus.

The movement started decades ago to raise awareness aboutviolence against women, and has now expandedto include those who are non-binary, transgenderand all members of the LGBTQ community.

"This whole thing was started to break the silence of violence against women and also take back the streets. Because I think as a woman, I think you're raised to really protect yourself as opposed to raising men not to attack women," said Brianne Goertzen, provincial director of the Manitoba Health Coalition and a speaker at the event.

She said more investment is needed in front-line community support and mental health support for women.

"We need a lot more resources, a lot more investment, meaningful action from all levels of government. Enough of the Band-Aid solutions."

'Why isn't this room packed?'

Attendees gathered first at the university's Bulman Centrefor sign-making and speeches, before hitting the streets.

On the mind of many in the room was the recent stabbing death of three-year-old Hunter Smith-Straight, whose mother also was attacked before he was killed.

"Why isn't this room packed? What do the services look like for Hunter's mother? The mother will live with the echo of that trauma for the rest of her life," said Alaya McIvor, another speaker at the event.

Nov. 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, as designated by the United Nations General Assembly.

"I'm a woman, I'm a two-spiritIndigenous woman and I grew up with violence my whole entire life. And I don't want violence to happen to any other person,"said JennaWirch, engagement co-ordinator for Aboriginal Youth Opportunities.

"It's about creating consent cultures, it's about making sure we're dispelling myths about violence against women. It's about ensuring that we're educating men and the next generation about what it means to be respectful of one another."