Feminist organization sheds light on women’s issues with creativity and dancing
In this world, one in three women will be raped or beaten in their lifetime. These words are some of the first that can be seen on the One Billion Rising website (onebillionrising.org). On Feb. 14, the international One Billion Rising protest will take place in Sacramento to bring light to this issue, and hopes for change.
This Valentine’s Day will be the 15th anniversary of V-Day, an event that takes place annually to protest violence against women. For the anniversary, the organization is holding its One Billion Rising campaign to raise awareness of the shocking statistics and to get people to participate and dance to ending them.
In Sacramento, California National Organization for Women (CA NOW) will be curating the event at the state capitol. Linda Long, the Action VP for the organization, describes CA NOW as an intersectional feminist organization that works for the empowerment of women and girls in California. When she heard of the event, she knew that the women’s organization would be perfect to host.
“California women and leaders must stop begging for changes in the law one rape at a time,” says Long. “We must have women leaders with enough political will and moxie to demand that gender equality and empowerment are institutionalized at every level in government.”
The event has found support in the community through organizations like Women Escaping A Violent Environment (WEAVE), the Native American Health Center, and Women Take Back the Night.
The event is also reaching American River College. “When confronting something real and traumatic that happens to millions of people, unity is a phenomenal weapon against ignorance,” says Amy Farnsworth, an ARC student who will be in attendance at One Billion Rising.
“We must have California women understand that women leaders can’t do it by themselves, they need our support,” says Long. The protest on the 14th could be the catalyst that begins the end of violence against women.
