Team Whiteman walks to take back the night

  • Published
  • By Heidi Hunt
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Just before the sun set in her cozy community she decided to embark on her daily run. She normally ran earlier in the day, but her schedule was full and she made it fit where possible.

Against her better judgment and the echo of her parents' preaching not to run alone at night, she slipped on her sneakers and played her favorite running-list.

Hesitation crossed her mind, but no one was around for miles and that was comforting. After all, what could possibly happen in her little town where she knew practically everyone?

Scenarios like this are what women have faced when walking alone at night, therefore Take Back the Night was established according to www.takebackthenight.org and focuses to eliminating sexual violence in all forms, and thousands of colleges, universities, women's centers and rape crisis centers have sponsored events all over the country.

Last Friday, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program hosted a TBTN walk as a way to protest the violence that women experienced while walking in public at night.

More than 100 walkers were in attendance at this Air Force Global Strike Command base.

"The purpose of this march is to speak out against this violence and raise community awareness as a preventative measure against future violence," said Amy Creighton 509th Bomb Wing SAPR program assistant.

The group started the walk at the fitness center track and ended at the Skelton Park where they listened to music, ate free food and socialized.

Sexual assault is one of the most under reported crimes, with 60 percent still being left unreported according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Males are the least likely to report a sexual assault, though they make up about 10 percent of all victims.

For information on bystander intervention, sexual assault prevention or to report a sexual assault, call the SAPR office at (660) 687-2324 or (660) 687-7272 to reach the 24/7 confidential hotline.