Iowa State students, surrounding community members and faculty banned together to show support for violence against women at the Solidarity Walk for Womxn on Wednesday.

The walk allowed participants to show support for violence against women and stand against abuse. The walk also allowed participants to process the murder of fellow student Celia Barquín Arozamena, as well as Iowans Mollie Tibbetts and Sadie Alvarado.

Opening remarks began at 11:30 a.m with the walk began at 11:55 p.m. The walk began at Parks library and included stops at Beardshear Hall, the Memorial Union and ended at the Sloss House were participants were able to talk with others was available.

Maria Alcivar, a graduate student in human development and family studies, organized the event.

“We’re all here for those no longer with us,” Alcivar said. “We are here to show survivors of rape and sexual assault that we believe them, that we care, and that we support them.”

“I want to take every opportunity I can to use my voice when I have one and just speak when the opportunity is there, especially when other women and men are coming together. I think it’s important to stand with them and have their back,” said Erin Gilligan, senior in performing arts. 

In honor of Celia Barquín Arozamena, participants wore yellow, Celia’s favorite color. Participants also carried posters in support of violence against women, as well as shirts wore by some supporting the cause.

“I think it’s a good thing, I wish there were more things like this showing more visibility because you know if its not in our face people seem to put it on the back burner,” said Anasia Sturdivant. 

Anasia Sturdivant,youth and family domestic abuse advocacy coordinator for ACCESS. ACCESS is an agency designed to help victims with their assault care center. Sturdivant is the advocate for campus and youth domestic abuse working with people age 24 and under.

“I think it’s a good thing, I wish there were more things like this showing more visibility because you know if its not in our face people seem to put it on the back burner,” Sturdivant said.

Participants were given the chance to tell their thoughts and stories on the issue at the four stops along the walk. Some people retold Facebook stories they had seen about women being stalked and abused, while others shared their thoughts on the loss Celia and the other young women murdered in Iowa.

“One in ten [women] on this campus and one in five in the nation will experience sexual violence,” said Jazzmine Brooks, ISU violence prevention and green dot coordinator, during her opening statement at the solidarity walk.

“I don’t believe that it’s women’s job to try and end violence against women,” said Lincoln Harris, a graduate student in education.

Harris said he struggles with the socialization that men are powerful and women are weak.

He has taken it upon himself to ask “What am I doing to bring attention to violence against women?” and “Am I intervening when friends are making jokes or doing any of those types of things to belittle women?”

Multiple hashtags were used on social media as well as solidarity boards set up at Parks library and the Sloss House for people wanting to share their thoughts without speaking to the group. Anything tagged with #BelieveWomenISU or #StoptheViolence will be achieved by the university archives according to Maria Alcivar the coordinator of the event.

“Not everyone has to do everything but everyone has to do something,” Brooks said.