Though the weather pushed the Take Back the Night rally inside the Union, participants were still able to take to the streets for the march to raise awareness about sexual violence Thursday night.
This year’s rally featured performers from Slam Nuba including Suzie Q. Smith, co-founder of the Denver-based slam. The award-winning poetry event began in 2006 and has become a collective of some of the nation’s finest poets.
“Thank you for letting us be in this space with you. Thank you for the work you’re doing. I love coming to the University of Wyoming and watching your student-led movements,” Smith said to the crowd after her performance. “I think that’s very powerful and seeing what you guys do here like the Good Mule Conference. I go to a lot of colleges across the country and it’s really one of the most progressive events I’ve ever been to.”
Many marchers held signs while chanting “1, 2, 3, 4! We won’t take it anymore! 5, 6, 7, 8! No more violence, no more hate!” and “Unite tonight! Take back the night!” The group was joined with a police escort to ensure safety and security.
The event was co-sponsored by the STOP Violence Program, Men’s Action Network, and the Albany County SAFE Project. SPEAK Out!, formerly known as the Women’s Action Network also sponsored the event.
Immediately following the march at 9:00 p.m. The Magic Beans, an indie group from Boulder, performed in the Union Gardens.
“It is really cool to be able to come out for a good cause. We frequently do shows. People getting together and having a good time is a good enough cause for us, but it is even better to be able to bring people together to raise awareness,” Casey Russell, The Magic Beans pianist, said before the show.
The band said they were excited to be in Laramie for the second time and stayed an extra day, performing Friday night at the Laramie Depot. In the coming days the band will kick off a three week tour.
