WEST LAFAYETTE — "Take back the day, take back the night, claim our bodies, claim our rights," Purdue students chanted Friday night.
Take Back the Night is an international march to end sexual violence and intimate partner violence. Grace Gochnauer is the president of #MeToo Purdue.
"We're taking back the night. We're supporting the people who went through this, and we never want it to happen again." she said.
She shared her story of being assaulted in her freshman year.
"He snored, somehow so peacefully, next to me, sleeping as if he hadn't just held me down telling me 'it'll be over soon' as he held me down with his forearm pressed against my chest," she said.
This is the first Take Back the Night march at Purdue since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. If Indiana's near-total abortion ban goes in effect, rape survivors will only have 10 weeks to access abortion care.
"I've seen so many signs that say a rapist can now choose their victim. And it's sickening, it's disgusting, and of course it puts more people on edge," president of IUPUI's Student Alliance for Equality (SAFE), Noah Thomas, said.
ONE YEAR AGO: Purdue students demand change after reports of sexual assault on campus | Purdue students continue their push for change & accountability after sexual assault reports
Thomas came to the march in solidarity.
"When you're assaulted, you feel like all of your rights have been violated by one person or a justice system. Now it feels like they're violated by an entire country. And it's terrifying. Because now you don't just have to worry what happens if you're a victim of interpersonal violence, but now you have to worry about what your choices are afterwards. So it does make it feel a lot heavier, a lot scarier, and a lot worse," Gochnauer said.
The fear fades as Gochnauer marches because she's not alone. Survivors at home aren't alone either.
"I want you to know that no matter what, you being a survivor is not a world of comparison. You are valued, you are loved, and you are 100% believed," she said.
If you or someone you know experienced a sexual assault, help is available.
-
McLaren Racing unveils new headquarters in Indianapolis
Gov. Braun recently joined drivers and leaders from McLaren Racing for the grand opening of the team's new headquarters in Indianapolis. WRTV's Brad Brown got an early look inside the new facility.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day highlights growth in NCAA athletics
Wednesday is National Girls and Women in Sports Day, a moment to reflect on how far women’s athletics have come.
Madam Walker Legacy Center announces rooftop expansion
The Madam Walker Legacy Center is a historic landmark on Indiana Avenue, including a theater, a ballroom, classrooms, meeting rooms and later this spring, a rooftop venue.
Woman channels sister's disappearance into mission to help other families
The grassroots group The Missing Struggle was born out of heartbreak. Members say they know all too well the uncertainty, the sleepless nights, and the desperate search for answers.
