Get ready to Take Back the Night

With the sun out and the temps in the 70s, it's a lovely day to get out of the office and stroll through downtown. Should you head over to Monument Square, you'll spot these strange cutouts scattered in front of the Our Lady of Victories monument. Is it an obstacle course? A mini-golf range? A kids' art project?

Actually, it's none of the above. According to Danielle L. Danie, of Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine, (on left), Sarah Lawler, of Family Crisis Services, and Hilary Lawton, of Planned Parenthood, the plywood forms represent the sobering statistic that one in five Mainers report being the victim of rape or attempted rape in their lifetime. The women will be in Monument Square all day today handing out information ahead of tonight's Take Back the Night march.

They've also set up a display of 400 petitions signed by locals who pledge to take a stand against violence.

Should you want to get involved, wander on over while the sun is shining and sign a petition. Or join the activists tonight at 6 pm in front of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church at 400 Congress St. First there will be a rally against sexual violence. This will be followed at 7:15 pm by a march through downtown Portland and a Speak Out back at the church at 7:45 pm.

I remember going on one of these marches back in the '80s. In particular, I recall our trek through upper Congress past the porn theaters that used to inhabit the State Theater and the current home of Geno's. A group of drunken men heckled our parade of moms and kids. It was kind of scary.

These days, Portland is a much more welcoming place, and I can't imagine that a crowd chanting "Women unite/Take back the night" will raise much more than a thumbs up from onlookers.