Feminist Event: Take Back the Night in Auckland

What: Take Back the Night rally and march
When: Saturday November 1st, from 7pm
Where: Meet at Aotea Square in Auckland

Anyone keen to make up a Hand Mirror contingent, and we could walk with a banner together - we could meet outside Borders at 7pm perhaps?

Here's the full message from the organising group:

Tena koutou,
We're writing to let you know about Take Back the Night, which will be held this year in Auckland on Saturday, November 1st.

There will be a rally (with food and speakers) at Aotea Square in Auckland City at 7pm, followed by a march to Basque Park.

Take Back the Night is a long-running international event that asserts women's right to feel safe at night and to live in a world without rape and violence. It is an event that raises awareness of and bears witness to the violent crimes perpetrated against women, children, transgendered, and intersexed persons everywhere.

It is also an empowering opportunity for women to recognise their shared experiences and unite in the struggle for a world without violence. From the street to the home, in many spaces women, transgendered and intersexed persons are harassed and subject to many different forms of abuse. These include rape and physical violence, the pressure to conform to men's expectations, and in some cases, murder - on average a woman in Aotearoa is killed by her (ex-)partner every six weeks. By marching, we are powerfully standing together to let the world know that abuse against women, children, transgender, and intersex people is unacceptable, and that all should be allowed to live their lives without fear.

All women, children, transgendered, takaatapui, fa'afine, and intersexed persons are invited to join us in 'Taking Back the Night'. We ask men to support Take Back the Night by respecting our need to organise independently against violence and to use this time to ask how they can best fight rape and violence.

To present a strong message it would be fantastic if we could get a big number of marchers. Please pass this email on to interested persons, tell your friends, whanau, colleagues and neighbours, and print out the attached poster.

We look forward to seeing you at Aotea Square on November 1st. Please email us if you require any further information. (takebackthenightak at gmail dot com).

Standing united,
Auckland Take Back the Night Working Group.