Take Back the Night

The annual Take Back The Night March and Vigil was held Tuesday at the City Hall parking lot.
The purpose of the march and vigil is to make known and take a stand against sexual violence, increase awareness of violence and speak out against crimes.
Laura Balthazar, executive director of St. Landry-Evangeline Sexual Assault center, said, “It’s to combat the fear women face going out alone at night and to increase awareness of violence directed against women.”
The event was hosted by the St. Landry-Evangeline Sexual Assault Center, Chat-A-While Social Civic Club, along with Eunice city officials.
The program began with an invocation given by the Rev. Jermaine Tezeno of True Light Baptist Church. Mayor Scott Fontenot welcomed all guests and participants of the march.
Barry Soileau of the St. Landry Parish District Attorney’s office read the official proclamation of Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness.
Fran Lemelle of the Chat-A-While Social Club introduced the guest speaker of the evening, Shaterral Johnson, a domestic violence survivor and a family member of a domestic victim.
Johnson is the mayor of Grand Coteau, served as a council woman. She is employed with the St. Landry Sheriff Department, and active in her community, and a survivor herself of sexual violence.
Johnson’s worst day of her life, as she says, was Aug. 26, 2015, when her sister Shameka Johnson died from an attacker, who was a family member. “She was stabbed multiple times and died at my mother’s home in Sunset.”
She is my hero she said of her sister. “She died saving my mother, who was stabbed also numerous times by the same man.”
Shameka Johnson, 40, at the time, was helping her mother who was recovering from heart surgery. “She and another sister Shalay Johnson were caring for my mother when Harrison Riley approached them in the home, and violently attacked them with a knife. He was known in his past history to be violent and on drugs. They were not expecting him at all.”
A niece of Johnson was also in the home at the time of attack, locked in a bedroom. She made the call to Shaterral Johnson. “I immediately thought of my mother, worried about her.
“When I arrived at the home, my sister was dead.”
Prior to the violent crimes at the Johnson home, Riley robbed a convenience store. “He also shot and killed police officer Henry Nelson.”
Riley is serving time in Angola Prison.
Johnson encouraged all women who are in violent situations to immediately get help. “Talk to someone. Get help, call your law enforcement officials, and get professional help.
“I don’t wish this kind of tragedy on anyone, even my worse enemies. With the help from God, and the support from my family and friends, we are slowly getting through this.”
The marchers against voilence began at City Hall lot and proceeded west down Park Avenue, around Eunice Circle Park, and concluded at the city hall lot. Eunice Junior High band, and Eunice High cheerleaders led the marchers.
The rally and program culminated and concluded with a solemn candlelight vigil in remembrance of hte victims lost due to acts of violence.
As Balthazar read the numerous victims of violence on a list, she also added that not only women are victims of domestic and sexual violence, men and children are also. Balthazar’s mother was a victim of sexual violence, she died on Jan. 4, 1972.