Tonight: Safe Slope's Take Back the Night Rally

As we previously announced, tonight the newly-formed group Safe Slope is holding a Take Back the Night Rally in response to the recent string of attacks against women in Brooklyn. The rally, sponsored by RightRides and The Center for Anti-Violence Education is GOING DOWN AT 8:00PM.

Via Safe Slope:

"The rally will begin by the Prospect Avenue R stop on 4th Avenue at 17th Street and end at the Detective Joseph Mayrose Park on 17th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, where Safe Slope volunteers, Nancy Schwartzman from The Line Campaign, Audacia Ray from The Umbrella Project, and others will be speaking. The Center for Anti-Violence Education will offer a mini self-defense demonstration and will be on-site to sign-up participants for a series of free self-defense classes they are offering in collaboration with Council Members Sara Gonzalez and Brad Lander. CAE’s workshop participants learn physical and verbal self-defense strategies that help them find their own strength, feel safer, and break through the fear and isolation caused by violence." 

Safe Slope formed when a few local residents began plastering flyers around Brooklyn to raise awareness of the attacks going on, and realized that there was more to be done. "Safe Slope's focus is on community involvement and our efforts lie in empowering neighbors to show up for each other and help create safer neighborhoods," said Jesse Oldham, another member of Safe Slope and a South Slope resident. The organization has developed two programs to further their cause:

Safe Walk Initiative
Safe Slope’s Safe Walk initiative is a volunteer-based program providing free walks home to female- and LGBTQ-identified community members. To arrange a Safe Walk, users can call us (phone number to be released later), and a pair of Safe Slope volunteers will meet them and walk them home safely. We will be piloting the Safe Walk program in South Slope/Greenwood Heights/Windsor Terrace on Thursday through Sunday nights, between 8:00pm and 3:00am. Safe Walk volunteers can provide “pick-ups” at local establishments and subway stops and will provide “drop-offs” anywhere in our catchment area (between 9th and 30th Streets and between 2nd and 8th Avenues in Brooklyn). Please contact us [safeslope@gmail.com] if you are interested in becoming a Safe Walk volunteer.

Safe Space Initiative
Safe Slope’s Safe Space initiative partners with local establishments (e.g., bodegas, delis, restaurants, churches, etc.) willing to create and maintain a space for community members to briefly retreat to at night to feel safe. Safe Space locations are open at night and post our Safe Space decal on their front door or window, welcoming community members inside to do what they need to do to feel safe (e.g., arrange a Safe Walk with us, call RightRides for a free ride home, wait for a friend or neighbor to walk home together, call the police, call a car service, etc.). We recognize our Safe Space partners as important leaders in our community. Please contact us [safeslope@gmail.com] if you are interested in becoming a Safe Space Partner.