Kamloops' Take Back the Night march will see men walk for the first time alongside women on downtown streets protesting violence against women.
Sept. 21 marks the 30th anniversary of the march happening in Kamloops, which is organized by the Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre (KSACC).
Its purpose is to raise awareness about stopping violence against women.
"It's to bring awareness to the fact that women don't feel safe walking the streets at night by themselves, and that they should be able to walk through a park or down a street, and not have to be accompanied by men," said Jody Beesley, one of the march organizers and a victim services worker at KSACC.
The event begins at The Grind, 476 Victoria St. with speakers at 5:30 p.m.
The hour-long walk begins at 6 p.m., and goes down Victoria Street to 2nd Avenue, then back along Victoria to 6th Avenue.
Take Back the Night is an international event that happens on different nights throughout the world in protest and direct action against rape and sexual violence.
The first march was held in Belgium in 1976, called Reclaim the Night.
Walks have traditionally been women-only to demonstrate women's strength in reclaiming the nighttime streets.
It's been a controversial policy in some places, and KSACC decided that on its 30th anniversary, it was time to allow men to march.
"I think it has been a debate off and on with different organizations and different people," said Beesley.
"Part of it is that we have a lot more men that want to march. They support and are against violence against women and children, and they support us and they support the causes," she said.
"There are men that are supportive, there are men that are not abusive, and so they should be included in saying violence against women is wrong."
The event is wheelchair-accessible, and Beesley said they're expecting between 70 to 100 participants.
Beesley said organizers encourage marchers to bring placards and noisemakers such as whistles, drums, bells or pots and pans to the march.
"The noisier the better," she said.
