The annual Take Back The Night march is set for this evening in downtown St. John’s.

This marks the 40th year for the event, which is meant to empower survivors and advocates while raising awareness of sexual violence.

Maddox Greene, an organizer with this year’s march, says people will use sidewalks, and not the road, noting that would have required a police escort, which organizers want to avoid.

“We will have marshalls in the area for safety, including at crosswalks, and we will be on the sidewalks to prevent the police from needing a reason to be down there,” he said. “That’s because, historically, and still for many survivors, especially if they’re part of marginalized communities, there has been a lack of justice from the system, and that includes the police.”

Greene says the all-ages march will begin, symbolically, at the Supreme Court building on Water Street with various speakers, ending at Harbourside Park with live music, face painting, balloon twisting and popcorn.

The event starts at 6:30 p.m., with similar marches set for Happy Valley-Goose Bay and St. Anthony.