Toronto's Black communities declare: #AllBlackLivesMatter at annual Take Back the Night rally against sexual and gender-based violence

TORONTO, Sept. 26, 2015 /CNW/ - Tonight, members of Toronto's Black communities and their allies will rally and march against sexual and gender-based violence as part of the 35^th annual Take Back the Night event. Scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. at Scadding Court Community Centre (707 Dundas St. West), this year's rally will focus on the ways that anti-black racism, Police, contribute to sexual, gender-based, and Police violence, and specifically violence against Black Trans Women, Black sex workers, and Black LGBTQ people. Organized by both Black Lives Matter – Toronto and the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape, the speakers will include Patrisse Cullors, the Los Angeles-based co-founder of the international Black Lives Matter movement.

"#AllBlackLivesMatter is a rallying cry to end the police murder and police brutality of Black trans women, Black sex workers, Black women in police custody and Black LGBTQ people" says LeRoi Newbold, organizer with Black Lives Matter – Toronto. "We are not ashamed to be survivors. The #BlackLivesMatter movement is invested in creating space for survivors to share their stories. We are creating space for healing."

The event will include a community fair, healing space, free community resources, childcare, and a Black-focused transformative justice demonstration stage, aimed at providing resources to community.

"We are taking back the night, but also taking back our communities.  We are powerful and more knowledgeable and skilled at keeping our communities safe than any institutional powers" says Newbold. "This event is being shaped by Black trans and queer people, women and those most affected by violence. We are marching to put an end to sexual violence. We are marching to confront anti-black racism."

WHAT:	35^th Annual Take Back the Night Rally & March
DATE:	Saturday, September 26, 2015
TIME:	7:30 PM
WHERE:	Scadding Court Community Centre | 707 Dundas St. West
WHO:	Black Lives Matter – Toronto, Patrisse Cullors of Black Lives Matter and the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape

This rally and action is organized by Black Lives Matter – Toronto, a coalition of Black community members, activists, parents, youth, students, and professionals, and the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape, a non-profit feminist organization committed to fighting violence against women and children. Take Back the Night is an international movement to end sexual and gender-based violence.

SOURCE Black Lives Matter Toronto

For inquiries, contact Sandra Hudson at [email protected] or 416-722-8842