A diverse crowd marched to the Douglas County Courthouse on a chilly Monday afternoon to raise awareness about sexual assault and domestic violence. Many people were holding signs that said “Speak out, Superior” in their mittened hands.
Speak Out Superior is a three year old event in which the UW-Superior campus and Superior community join together to speak against sexual and domestic violence.
“I think that events like these are beneficial to the campus community as well as the local community,” said Gender Equity Student Program Manager Holly Breeden. “It is a chance to educate people on why sexual assault should not be tolerated and educate people that it happens everywhere.”
Bundled up to face the cold wind and this difficult topic, the group congregated in the Yellowjacket Union parking lot before the march, where the UWS BBQ club gave away free hotdogs, brats and hamburgers to the crowd as they prepared.
The event was a collaboration of CASDA, UWS Gender Equity Resource Center and local businesses. A number of volunteers and speakers also donated their time to make the event possible.
“Being part of the planning process for this event has given me a chance to hear from survivors of sexual assault, embrace what they have told me and it has empowered me to help put an end to it,” Breeden said.
Superior High School students Chantel Nichols and Savannah Bastron-Furry followed the crowd. “We feel bad for the people,” said Nichols. “We wanted to stick up for the people who are victimized.”
Superior Time
