Take Back the Night!
By Emily Randisi
On Thursday, April 9, I participated in my first rally. We gathered in the Cistern yard in the heart of the College of Charleston campus, marched up St. Phillips Street, then over to King Street and ended in Marion Square. As roughly 100 demonstrators walked down the closed-off streets, we boisterously chanted “Community unite, take back the night!” Various related non-profit organizations were awaiting our arrival as we finished our demonstration at Marion Square. The rally and reception were organized by the People Against Rape organization.
The Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to prevention child abuse, was among the organizations gathered in Marion Square providing support for the cause. For four consecutive years, Cognetix has developed an advertising campaign focusing on the National Child Abuse Prevention Month sponsored by Dee Norton. The “I believe” campaign focuses on the belief that child abuse is a grown-up problem, and we as adults are the key to successful prevention and treatment. Because the Cognetix team saw the need to support and promote such an amazing cause, they selflessly dedicated many hours to presenting the Dee Norton campaign pro bono.
“We are very excited to be a part of such a wonderful cause,” said Marie Parrish, a Dee Norton volunteer at the event. “And we’re so grateful for our wonderful sponsors who make all this possible.”
The Marion Square gathering had a clear message: the prevention of all types of abuse. Hand-crafted t-shirts were hanging up around the quadrant we had taken over. Each shirt conveyed messages about hope, survival or the rehabilitation process necessary for sexual abuse victims. To drive home the message, each organization’s table featured a different pair of shoes. Each pair had a tag with a few sentences from their owner’s experience of sexual violence. These were especially frightening, as the shoes ranged from sneakers of a college student to an adorable pair of baby shoes.
Although the subject of the event was serious, the mood was light and uplifting. Musicians Travis Wharton and Brian Lariviere provided light-hearted and upbeat tunes to entertain the crowd. The program that followed included a message from keynote speaker Linda Ketner, president of KSI Corporation. Awards were given to recognize numerous outstanding individuals and the evening wrapped up with a heartfelt candlelight vigil and a few motivating words by People Against Rape Executive Director Melonea Locklair.
For more information about the People Against Rape organization visit www.peopleagainstrape.org. To learn more about the Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center and the “I believe” campaign for National Child Abuse Prevention Month visit www.dnlcc.org.
Categories: Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center "I believe" Campaign
