"Take Back the Light"

"I survived an attempt," were the words survivor/ volunteer Tiffany Jasper wrote on a T-shirt that she hung on a clothesline. Jasper along with 20 other women aired the dirt and thoughts that stained their minds, bodies, and souls after being sexually assaulted.



This was just one of the many events to take place during the YWCA's "Take Back the Light" event.



The YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago is an organization that provides services to sexual assault victims. They offer medical advocacy, free consoling, prevention education and many more services. The people of YWCA even meet victims at the hospital upon arrival. Kathryn Cook, program coordinator, wanted these survivors to mostly know that they [YWCA] cared and so she organized a "Take Back the Light" event. This event is similar to the nationally known "Take Back the Night," except she felt the need to change the name to dispel the myth that it [sexual assault] only happens at night.



After a woman walking with her son was approached by two men, one held her son while the other assaulted her. This case went with little news coverage. It was never published whether the perpetrator was arrested. Jasper felt the need to spread the word in her Englewood community.



Together Cook and Jasper set up this event. Its agenda followed the original "Take Back the Night" pattern. The women made T-shirts that reflected the emotions they felt inside. For some women this was their first time speaking out. T-shirts read, "I want to speak for myself the way I do for others." Some T-shirts were filled completely with all that one had to get off their chest. Jasper wrote on her very own T-shirt a message to let these women know that they are not alone.



The event itself was rather successful according to Cook. There was a candle light vigil, a mini march around the neighborhood, and even an opportunity for survivors to share their experiences.



Any person, regardless of age, class, race, religion or lifestyle, could potentially be a victim of rape. According to the FBI, one out of every three women will be raped at some point in her lifetime. For every reported rape there is an estimated 5- 10 unreported sexual assaults.



Cook states that people do not rape out of need for a sexual partner. Stats show that 75 percent of men who rape are either married or have a regular sexual partner. Only 2 percent of men who rape are sent to prison.



YMCA worker Monica Moore concluded the event with a poem she wrote just for the event. "You blame the victim even say they deserve to be raped until it's your mother, you sister you daughter," Moore read.



No matter what a woman is wearing or how they carry themselves no means no. No one deserves to be raped.