By Mark Dreger

More than 100 women, men, and children gathered downtown in Kerry Park Thursday night to participate in the Take Back the Night rally, a global movement aimed at making streets safe for women and raising awareness about sexual assault.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e gotten louder and we香蕉视频直播檝e adapted with the times to have the music here and more events,香蕉视频直播� said Michelle Novakowski, executive director of the Elizabeth Fry Society. 香蕉视频直播淏ut we make it a short night because it gets cold in the fall pretty early, and we want to be able to have kids and families involved.香蕉视频直播�

Participants wrote encouraging words in chalk before speakers for the event were introduced, which included Novakowski and Miss Universe Canada Finalist Shanelle Connell, who spoke about the stories she香蕉视频直播檚 heard about sexual violence. There was also a self-defence demonstration by the First Strike Martial Arts Academy that gave examples of how to escape an attack.

Kailin and Riley, who attended the event for the first time, were excited to see the group empowering women and not being afraid.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e both trying to get into this field and we just want to see what kind of community involvement there is and what kind of support there is for E Fry and for women香蕉视频直播檚 rights,香蕉视频直播� Kailin said. 香蕉视频直播淵ou can香蕉视频直播檛 silence something like this once it goes viral and I think it does make a difference.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭his is probably my fifth or sixth,香蕉视频直播� said James while holding his daughter in his arms. 香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 a great event and a great service to Kelowna, so I keep coming out and showing my support.香蕉视频直播�

Jannah Jais, an employee and volunteer with Elizabeth Fry, had her reflector vest ready to help direct her first Take Back the Night rally.

香蕉视频直播淔or me this event really means just moving issues that are considered taboo beyond the doors and making them public and making people know that this is the reality for a lot of people,香蕉视频直播� Jannah said.

After speeches of encouragement, participants grabbed signs and began the march up Bernard Avenue, chanting 香蕉视频直播淲e have the power, we have the right,香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播測es means yes, no means no.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚t feels like we make two steps forward and then we have one back, but every time we have one back we gather more energy and we move forward again,香蕉视频直播� Novakowski said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd while most crimes have gone down in the last ten years, violence against women香蕉视频直播攑ower-based crimes such as sexual assault and domestic violence香蕉视频直播攈ave not gone down. In many areas they香蕉视频直播檝e increased, so we香蕉视频直播檝e got a ways to go.香蕉视频直播�

Take Back the Night is an international campaign that began in the United States in 1975. Kelowna has hosted a Take Back the Night event for over 25 years.