Crisis Services of Buffalo held its annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” march on Sunday, April 30, to a crowd of roughly 200 hundred strong — mostly college students.
The march encourages men to pick up a pair of women’s shoes and, you guessed it, walk a mile in them (which this author attempted but only made it a third of the way). The event draws attention to rape and other sexual violence and the need for service availability to victims. Sexual crimes have drastically low report rates (36 percent for rape – National Institute of Justice), but events like this aim to bring that conversation out into the open.
Even with such a grim topic, the day was somewhat lighthearted with a number of men awkwardly stomping around on heels, but once they found their balance, they were like peacocks showcasing their feathers through a tire run and fashion show.
The route this year took the group from Crisis Services on the corner of Main Street and Hertel Avenue, down Hertel to Starin and back again. Staff members handed out picket signs to marchers, many of who cocked their heads and signs at alternate angles for better readability during their social media moments.