Self-defense class offered at Carrington City Library

A self-defense and personal safety awareness class, presented by the North Dakota Safety Council, will be hosted on Tuesday, April 12, from 5-9 p.m. at Carrington City Library. In addition to learning how to recognize predators and tips to avoid dangerous situations, the course offers hands-on practice of escape maneuvers. The class is open to anyone ages 13 and older.

The idea of offering a self-defense class was brought to library director, Michele Seil, by a library patron who had attended a similar program in another community. “Carrington feels so safe,” said Seil, “but so many of our young people leave the area to attend college or work in larger communities that aren’t.” While the class originated as a need for teen girls, teen boys and all adults can be empowered to defend themselves.

“We live in a very mobile society, traveling around the world for work and pleasure. Being able to protect ourselves should be a high priority,” Seil added. The class will bolster confidence in self-defense situations and help overcome physical and psychological challenges.

Many area adults recall the 2003 abduction and murder of Dru Sjodin from the Columbia Mall parking lot in Grand Forks. Carrington resident Jennifer Whitman was attending UND at the time of Sjodin’s murder, and several of her friends knew Sjodin personally. Whitman recalls taking a self-defense class to combat the fear and uncertainty in the aftermath of that tragedy. She highly encourages teens to attend, as it may be the one class that saves their lives.

According to statistics compiled by the North Dakota Attorney General’s office, crimes against persons have been increasing slowly but steadily since 2016. In 2016, there were 9,606 crimes against persons (rape, assault, murder, etc.) in North Dakota; in 2020 the number increased to 10,815. The North Dakota Human Trafficking Task Force website states that “human trafficking affects every community in the United States across age, gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds.” The task force has served 576 victims of human trafficking, investigated 170 cases of human trafficking, and handled almost 3,900 assistance calls. As Carrington lies at the junction of two major North Dakota highways, these facts cannot be ignored.

The class size is limited, so registration is required. To register go to http://www.carringtonlibrary.org or call the city library at (701) 652-3921. Cost is $10/person, and supper is included. A sponsor is willing to cover the cost for participants who do not feel comfortable paying the registration fee in order to ensure that all who want to learn to protect themselves can do so.