With signs reading "Keep our streets safe," "Illuminate the world," and "Strength and courage," a couple hundred people walked through the streets of downtown Saskatoon on Thursday night.

It was part of Take Back the Night 2012, an annual march that aims to raise awareness about violence against women and making communities safer.

Tamira Hansen wanted to take part in the walk because her friend was a victim of violence.

"To see something like that happen ... it gives that motive to do something about it," she said.

Roisin Unsworth also took part in the walk. She works as a crisis councillor at the YWCA and said she sees that violence against women is a problem in Saskatoon.

"I think so much of the problem is the silence around it, so I think it's important to speak out," said Unsworth.

The walk was organized by the Saskatoon Women's Community Coalition (SWCC) and has been going on in the city for more than a decade.

"The main purpose of it is making a stand, symbolic and physical against violence against women ... against the idea of violence against women in the streets, making streets safe for women to walk in at night," said Laura Hopkins, the chair of the SWCC.

Take Back the Night marches have been held around the world since the 1970s.

tburdeniuk@rawlco.com

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