Locals marched to downtown DeKalb to raise awareness for sexual assault victims at Take Back the Night Tuesday.

Safe Passage held Take Back the Night at the Congregational United Church of Christ, 615 N. First St. Participants, who carried signs, were escorted along the route by police officers, including DeKalb officer Sadie Pristave.

“We’re here to make sure people walking for awareness are safe, and we also have our lights on to draw attention for what they’re trying to promote,” Pristave said.

The mission of Safe Passage is to reduce or prevent domestic violence and sexual assault in DeKalb County. The organizations also provides short- and long-term housing for victims and their children, children’s services, community education and an abuser intervention program.

In the United States, sexual abuse and assault victims are 18 or younger 44 percent of the time and 80 percent are under the age of 30, according to Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network statistics. Every two minutes another American is sexually assaulted, and each year there are about 237,868 victims of sexual assault, according to the network.

“This type of event is something to raise awareness for April, which is awareness month,” said Safe Passage member Samora Covington. “Take Back the Night is an event built to create spaces for safety where traditionally there weren’t any … .”

Mayor John Rey said this is the second year he has attended Take Back the Night.

“The biggest benefit of this is awareness and to send a strong message that these actions are wrong as a community,” Rey said.

Mary Ellen Schaid, Safe Passage executive director, said Take Back the Night is important because she wants the community to be safe from sexual violence.

“We want to get more people involved because abuse can destroy people’s lives and we want to be able to eradicate the problem,” Schaid said. “We’re here to raise awareness of this cause and issue. Acts like this are devastating to the community and its victims.”

After walking to downtown DeKalb, Safe Passage members and volunteers went into the Congregational United Church of Christ where survivors of sexual assault and domestic abuse were able to speak about their experiences. Victims decorated more than 70 T-shirts, each unique to their own story. The shirts were displayed in the church.

“For me, I can’t imagine what it’s like to be able to step in front of people and tell your story,” said Lisa Jensen, director of Safe Passage Client Services.