Chrissy Heikkila stood tall Thursday evening, facing dozens of people gathered at the Kansas Union to speak out against sexual assault.

Students, community members, children and dogs gathered for “Take Back the Night,” a solidarity march put on by the GaDuGi SafeCenter, a local advocacy group for victims of sexual assault.

Handmade signs addressing the issue peppered the crowd of about 50 participants. The signs read:

Kansas University students and community members take part in a Take

“Unless she says yes, the answer is no.”

“Consent is hot, assault is not.”

“Rape is not the presence of no, it’s the absence of yes.”

Heikkila, the SafeCenter’s executive director, spoke forcefully into her microphone about what it means to be a victim of sexual assault.

“It’s something you keep with you all the time,” she told the crowd. “It can come up when you don’t want it to come up, and it’s different for everyone.”

Shortly after 7 p.m., the group began chanting “take back the night” in unison and marching from Kansas University’s campus and toward South Park.

“We wanted the march to connect the campus to the community and vice versa,” said Rachel Gadd-Nelson, the SafeCenter’s director of community engagement.

At South Park, the group continued the discussion, hosting a community rally and a speak-out circle.

“That’s where survivors can talk about their experiences in a confidential and accepting place,” Gadd-Nelson said.

While “Take Back the Night” marches have been around since the 1980s, Gadd-Nelson said Thursday’s was the first in Lawrence to be hosted by the SafeCenter. The event was scheduled purposefully in April to coincide with Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

“It’s an important month, and it’s exciting to do anything we can to raise awareness,” said marcher Emily Schwerdtfeger.

Alongside Schwerdtfeger marched Melody Wagler, who also volunteers her time at the SafeCenter.

Wagler said she was pleased with the event’s turnout and optimistic the march would bring to light something largely kept in the dark.

“I’m not happy about the horrible things that have happened,” Wagler said. “But I’m happy that all these people are working to make a difference.”