Hundreds march in London’s Take Back the Night rally, demanding safer communities after anti-women graffiti and Hockey Canada trial verdict.
Londoners march in Take Back the Night rally at Victoria Park
Survivors take the lead
Survivors of domestic and sexual violence led the annual Take Back the Night rally on Thursday evening in London, Ontario. Cheered on by hundreds of supporters at Victoria Park, participants called for an end to gender-based violence and greater community accountability.
A community shaken
This year’s march unfolded against a heavy backdrop: anti-women graffiti discovered on a north London overpass just one day earlier, and widespread frustration following the recent not-guilty verdict in the sexual assault trial of five former Hockey Canada players. Both events underscored the urgency of the gathering.
Speaking truth to power
Among those addressing the crowd was Ashley Senuita, a survivor of intimate partner violence and mother of two. She voiced her fear and frustration over systemic failures to protect women. “If even in large groups we aren’t safe, and if in courts we aren’t believed, what recourse do we have?” she asked. Her son, 18-year-old Jack Wright, echoed her call for change, stressing the role of young men in creating a culture of consent.
A return after the pandemic
Thursday marked the first Take Back the Night rally in London since the COVID-19 pandemic. Organized in partnership with the London Abused Women’s Centre, ANOVA, Queer Intersections, Muslim Resource Centre, the City of London, Western University, and Fanshawe College, the event also coincided with Ontario’s first official Consent Awareness Week, introduced this summer to strengthen education on healthy relationships.
Finding strength in solidarity
For newcomer Ashley Jimenez, the rally provided a space to connect and listen. She said hearing survivors share their stories was empowering, though she worries that public acts of misogyny—such as the graffiti incident—or lengthy trials where survivors are retraumatized, discourage others from coming forward. “It feels like blame is always shifted onto women,” Jimenez said.
Leadership responds
Mayor Josh Morgan condemned the graffiti in a social media statement, calling it “hateful and bigoted, inciting violence against women.” City staff removed it Wednesday morning, but for many, its impact lingered. Morgan reaffirmed the city’s commitment to ensuring safe public spaces for all residents.
Learning to do better
Some participants attended to listen and learn. Londoner Alex Cottrill admitted he had little prior understanding of the prevalence of gender-based violence but wanted to understand his role in changing harmful cultural norms. “Even jokes can cause damage,” he said, reflecting on his own school experiences. “I just want to figure out how to help create a healthier culture.”
A movement with deep roots
Take Back the Night has been held in London for over two decades, part of a global movement that centres survivors while pushing for systemic change. Organizers say the annual march is both an act of resistance and a space for healing—one that continues to grow in urgency as communities confront persistent violence and inequities.
Stay connected with Canada’s latest headlines — follow Maple News Wire on Instagram | Facebook | X | LinkedIn.
