Rescheduled: UMKC Leads Community Rally Against Sexual Violence

Take Back the Night Rescheduled for April 25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2013
Contact: Kristin Pitts
(816) 235-6678; pittsk@umkc.edu
Event Contact: Kelly Rifenbark
(816) 235-6175; rifenbarkk@umkc.edu

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Violence Prevention and Response Project will host the university’s seventh annual Take Back the Night Rally on Thursday, April 25.

At 6:30 p.m. a rally will take place in the UMKC Quad, near 52ndStreet and Rockhill Road. Later, sexual assault survivors will speak about their transitions from victims to survivors.

Take Back the Night
is an annual event that coincides with Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The event provides an annual opportunity to promote awareness of sexual violence and its prevention.

“Every year, UMKC’s Take Back the Night March and Rally provides a great forum for students and community members to speak out against violence, promote awareness of sexual violence prevention and find ways to reduce violence in Kansas City,” Kelly Rifenbark, violence prevention coordinator, said.

All of UMKC’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month events are free and open to the public; no RSVP is required.  Take Back the Night is a collaboration with UMKC’s Women’s Center, Office of Student Involvement, the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault, the Kansas City Anti-Violence Project, and other campus and community organizations

 ADDITIONAL EVENT

On Wednesday, April 24, the UMKC and Kansas City communities are invited to wear jeans in honor of Denim Day. Since 1999, Denim Day has been internationally celebrated in protest of an Italian High Court ruling that overturned a rape conviction because the victim was wearing jeans. Enraged by the verdict, women of the Italian Legislature protested the decision by wearing jeans to work. As news of the decision spread, so did the protest. On April 24, universities, colleges, junior high and high schools, businesses, organizations and individuals will participate in Denim Day events.

About the University of Missouri-Kansas City
The University of Missouri-Kansas City, one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, and celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2013. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit www.umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.

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This information is available to people with speech or hearing impairments by calling Relay Missouri at (800) 735-2966 (TT) or (800) 735-2466 (voice).


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