Yellowknife (Sep 27/06) - About 80 people marched through downtown Yellowknife Sept. 21 chanting "women unite, take back the night" to raise awareness about violence on the streets of the capital.

It wasn't just women in the annual Take Back the Night march - men, children, babies, and more than a few dogs were in the crowd.

"It's not just for women, it's for everybody. It's everybody's problem," said organizer Kerry King, from the Centre for Northern Families, a women's shelter.

Pearl Slade was there with a group of ladies from the Catholic Women's League.

Carrying a bright green sign reading "no means no," she explained why she was marching.

"I don't like this violence stuff going on," she said.

Her sister, Wilda Wedgerfield, agreed.

"We're here to give our support to women who feel they can't go out at night because they're afraid," she said.

The march began at the Centre for Northern Families and wound its way around town, led by a police escort. It stopped at various locations and quick speeches were made at significant spots, such as the RCMP detachment and city hall.

Sgt. Ken Morrison is the RCMP representative on the Coalition against Family Violence. He said it is important that the police be involved in efforts to end violence.

"We are the front line workers," he said. "We have to lead the charge, be there, and show our support."

Showing support was what brought Steve Lacey to the march. He said it's a cause he believes in.

"People need to be safe walking down the street - women, men, anything," he said as he walked, the sun setting behind the crowd.

The streets of Yellowknife are "generally safe," said RCMP Sgt. Darcy Fleury.

"We do have incidence of assaults happening downtown, but it's not a rampant issue we face right now."

Regardless of the rates of crime, people marching said that any violence on the streets is unacceptable.

"We have to make people aware that it's here and it's not going to be tolerated by society...that it's wrong," said Morrison.