Take Back the Night Takes on RTA

By Louise Luczak

Despite the worst thunderstorms of the summer, 400 women braved the rain to attend the second Cleveland Women Take Back the Night march and rally on August 2. Although the schedule of events had to be rearranged, we feel Take Back the Night 1980 was successful. The high spirits of Cleveland women prevailed despite disappointments due to the weather,

When the Take Back the Night Committee accepted the reality of rain at about 6:00 p.m., decisions had to be made about changes in program schedule. The first decision was to hold the rally inside the law building at Cleveland State University rather than on Public Square. Second, we decided to march to CSU before the rally. Because we had a permit to march in the street only after 9:00 p.m., however, we were confined to marching on the sidewalk at 8:15.

These two changes proved disappointing. We had designed the rally to be held on Public Square before the march. We knew the new and different vision offered by Andrea Dworkin and the enthusiastic selfdefense tactics demonstrated by Karen Archeki would rile an already angry group of women protesting the violence against us. It was unfortunate the women of Cleveland could not use the energy generated by the rally to march in the streets. The Take Back the Night Committee was not aware that the decison to change the march time would put us on the sidewalks; therefore, we were not organized to take over the streets. One effect of marching was thus diminished: the symbolic impact of the collective strength and power of Cleveland women marching through the streets.

Comparing 1979's march to this year's raises several questions. We corrected last year's mistake of having too many speakers, and changed the format this year by having a speaker from out of town rather than all local women. Several committee members had heard Andrea Dworkin speak at the Women Against Pornography conference in New York City last September. We recognized the radical nature of her analysis of violence against women and the dynamic quality and rhythm of her speaking. We saw her as a woman able dramatically to verbalize ideas many women formulate only vaguely. We also perceived her as a controversial educator who could bring new ideas to women in Cleveland.

Most of us were thrilled, though surprised, when Andrea Dworkin accepted our offer to speak in Cleveland. (We spent $500 to bring her here, including a $200 speakers fee, $200 round trip plane ticket from New York City and $100 in hotel, food and taxi expenses. Donations and T-shirt sales partially covered the expense.) Her presence raised many questions: Did Andrea Dworkin say anything that a woman from Cleveland could not have said? What impact did her years of research about violence against women have on individuals in the crowd? Was she too academic? Was she too hard to understand? Did she encourage new thought and discussion? Did she alienate any women because of her radical ideas? The Take Back the Night Committee hopes these and other questions will be discussed and answered by women reading this article.

Another question that recurred this year was men's involvement in the march and rally. Is there a place for men on our special night? In what way can supportive men help?

Last year's flyer read "Men are needed for childcare and to line the sidewalks with candles to light our way." This year we re-evaluated that statement. We decided not to say in our flyer that men are needed to light our way. (Unfortunately, the statement was still printed on some flyers.) The Take

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Back the Night Committee saw this as a way of asking men to surround and protect us as we march. We don't want the protection of men during a Take Back the Night march when hundreds of women are marching together.

We did employ the help of a few men, who took care of specific tasks that would otherwise prevent women from attending the march and rally. These

Andrea Dworkin

photo by Louise Luczak tasks included childcare, transporting women who could not walk the distance and taking down equipment. We appreciate the help these men gave us.

Violence is directed against women specifically and purposely because we are women. A Take Back the Night march is for women only because we are the people who must stop violence against us. It is a special time when once a year we can look around and see hundreds of other women who have experienced (directly or indirectly) the humiliation and

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pain of rape and battering. We feel our anger together that night. We also feel our power and the potential for change.

The Take Back the Night Committee feels that men who want to be supportive can organize themselves to change attitudes about male domination and violence against women. On the night of the march, a few men are needed to do tasks, but other men can best support us by staying home and not interfering with our space.

This year's rally has created an ongoing focus that was lacking last year. On August 3, 1979, Cleveland had a very successful, symbolic, fun Take Back the Night march and rally. There was a high level of participation and energy. We listened to many excellent speakers, screamed and yelled in the streets, came into University Center, and then...nothing. All that wonderful energy was not harnessed. And it was lost for the entire year.

A symbolic march serves to educate, energize and unite. However, the march has no value if the education, energy and unity are never used.

This year the Take Back the Night Committee is organizing for better security on RTA. A woman spoke about the fear we all feel when waiting for a rapid or bus. A statement was read by an anonymous woman about her rape on RTA. A female RTA bus driver was raped and shot last fall while driving. A recent letter to the Plain Dealer exposed the attempted rape of a woman at 4:30 in the afternoon at a rapid stop. Many of us can think of other women who have had similar experiences while using the RTA system.

Security on RTA is inadequate. Now that we are all educated, energized and united, let's demand an end to violence against women on RTA. There will be a meeting on Wednesday, September 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the University Center at Cleveland State which will (continued on page 11)

New Women's Coalition Formed

By Carol Epstein

On an early Saturday morning we sit in small groups eating breakfast and speaking with quiet voices-twenty-five women gathered comfortably in the carpeted basement of the McDonald's set back from busy Carnegie Avenue at East 30th Street. Gathering for the twelfth time, the Grassroots Female Leadership Coalition once again takes shape. Led by the founder of Domestic Workers of America, Geraldine Roberts, this meeting convenes twice a month, on the second Tuesday and fourth Saturday, from 9 to 11 a.m.

Roberts begins her discussion by reminding us that in spite of their large numbers, grassroots women have the least amount of decision-making power. Minority group struggles of the 1960's have shown women that they too can organize in order to tackle the immense problems they face: "If you are hungry, you should be able to come here and tell us. If you have mental problems, you will find a place. As grassroots women, we have not ever had the experience to begin talking about ourselves."

The critical problems of poverty and the lack of economic and emotional security have drained the energy of poor women. Because their problems are so difficult to manage, Roberts adds, poor women, particularly black women on the day-to-day treadmill of inner city life, have not been able to face what may be their central problem-the way in which black men dominate them:

"Your man, he's making sure he has what he

wants. He sets you up in a little apartment and makes you his 'private one'. And while you go on keeping house, he finds another woman and makes her his 'private one' too. Men talk about how they can make something for themselves. And they expect their women to be proud of them. But it doesn't go both ways. Whether it's your husband or your son, he's the head of the household and he runs the house. We black women have never had the chance to find out who we really are. We can't say three words without mentioning our husband's name. We've never had the chance to say, 'I am an individual. If I want to change my life, I'll do it.' Grassroots women can become really, really involved if they take the first step.' Around the room, women nodded their heads-yes, yes, that's the way it is.

"

Roberts wants to see a grassroots women's coalition of 100 grow beyond its urban boundaries. ***But it starts here," she declares. "This group is Chapter One. This is a place where poor women can feel relaxed and comfortable. If you have a million dollars, you are welcome to come and share it if you like! But if you have nothing but yourself, share that, 100." She would like to see coalition chapters start in other cities and towns, with delegates representing each area and attending the central group.

Roberts states that any woman is welcome to join this coalition. A social worker or an attorney, in par

(continued on page 11)

September, 1980/What She Wants/Page 31