Messages of change and emotion
Each year the Lennoxville and District Women’s Centre takes part in the 12 DAYS OF ACTION TO END GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. Between Nov. 25 and Dec. 6, The Record will be publishing an article in each issue to raise awareness and shine a light on this critical social problem.
Art sends messages, makes changes and shares emotion. Art is one of the most important tools in the fight against gender-based violence. Below are two pieces by Audrey Côté and Elisa Philibert presented on November 18th, 2021 during the Take Back the Night protest at Bishop’s University. These students and activists are both members of Bishop’s Sexual Culture Committee and as Audrey shares a self portrait and Elisa sends a message to survivors their activism surrounding gender-based violence resonates widely.
Sometimes I know how to listen, how to propose a solution.
Sometimes I’m here when they need me,
I just carry some weight with me, I help them feel a bit better or help them forget what’s the matter. Sometimes I know, but now I don’t. Cause it’s a lot, Cause it’s too much, Cause we scream and nothing changes
Cause we change but we still scream. Sometimes I know how to help them,
I gather my courage, I gather my thoughts,
I give them my time, and I hope it will hold sometimes
I know, but I don’t anymore.
‘Cause it’s more than my time that they need, to solve something so big.
I can give them everything but it’s nothing against safety.
it is nothing if late at night they can’t walk around the town
it is nothing if late at night they can’t party in a bar
it is nothing if their no’s are transformed in maybe’s
it is nothing if their complaints are ignored and broken what does it mean to give your time when they can’t stand, when they can’t walk when there is no safe space anymore. how do you help, how do you care when everything is so unfair. sometimes I know, but now I don’t. Because I see their rage, I feel their thoughts
Because they can’t do it alone
They can’t do it anymore.
Because they know what to say, but they have nowhere to say it
Because they know what they need, but there is nobody to make it real
Because they know who’s at fault, but sanctioning doesn’t happen. Sometimes I know, but now I don’t Because there is so much to listen to So much to change
And so much to improve
That marching on Thursday is a nice beginning
But Friday can’t be seen as an ending I hope they know that I am there To help carry this weight they bare How can we stand, how can we shout,
How can we make them proud.
Survivors I hear your pain
I wanna help, I wanna march
Can I stand on your side
Can we hold this banner tight
And together we will fight
To finally be safe at night.
I hope that now I know
How to scream, how to shout to carry your voices in the daylight
and finally defeat the night.