One Billion Rising: 'We will stand up and dance to free ourselves'
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EUGENE, Ore. -- As the clock struck noon Thursday, a flash mob of about 150 dancers fell into formation outside of the Lane Community College cafeteria.
They were the local ambassadors in a movement called One Billion Rising, a global event that raises awareness of the violence that women will endure in their lifetime.
Lydia Espinoza, an organizer for the flash mob, said that one billion women, accounting for a third of the world's female population, will experience rape or physical violence at some point in their life.
"The whole message is to tell women and men that it's not OK to abuse women or any gender for that matter, so today we'll rise, we will stand up and dance to free ourselves," said Espinoza.
On Valentine's Day, men and women around the world took a unified stand in changing this statistic.
"The attempt today is to get a billion people to dance around the globe in order to bring awareness to this gender violence," said Stan Taylor, a Political Science professor and chair of the Lane Peace Center.
The flash mob participants danced to "Break the Chain", the song chosen as a theme of the movement.
"You're basically breaking the chain. You're breaking out of it," said Lydia. "You're not going to let abuse to yourself or to any of your family members anymore."
Another One Billion Rising event will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Lane County Fairgrounds Wheeler Pavilion. Womenspace, the Lane county Domestic Violence Council and other groups will offer services and information to help women avoid violence in Lane County.
You can always tell which ones are the feminists , they are the ugly ones.
@colorowdy @Jeff Knopf OH MY!!! Spelling errors really? what are you a child.       First off you miss understood what I was saying in my post. I will try to help you understand but first you must loose the thing on your shoulder, not your head but the chip.        I was only asking how many of the 1 billion woman are the same 1 million moms agains guns.. Seems like a catch 22 to me..      In the feild of work I'm in I see abuse first hand.. Its sad and appauling.. I have cried with a woman in the back of an ambulance that was just raped.. And you rant at me with that chip on your shoulder why? Â
@colorowdy @Jeff Knopf I'm married to a woman who no doubt would put a bullet in my head as I slept if I ever touched her and thats the kind of women I'm raisin? g in my daughters. My sons well, they better put a beatting on any man they see or know of that abuses a woman... You rant at me!!!!Not all men are dirt bags just like not all women are princesses like you..
Strange days, indeed.
First of all abuse isn't ONLY brought on by a man...   Second...  I think this is ridiculass myself but I was wondering where the one billion rising feel abou the Brady Campains newest slogan...  A rape can last 30 seconds, but a murder last forever. Guns are not the answer....          Â
@Jeff Knopf being a man you are at a disadvantage about what women endure. Rape DOES last a life time - just ask a victim - something that seems to escape your narrow mind - your spelling is horrid as well so I will assume you have a limited education. I will keep it simple so not to lose you will the big words.
Men do feel they need to control women, look at what is going on with men trying to pass laws that dictate what a woman does with her own body - seems to be a biggie with men - control over women because we are the weaker sex? If a man had to give birth - he would only do it once - if a man had to go through a monthly cycle that poured blood from his body with cramping and bloating - they would ask for more paid sick days.
There is a sector of men that feel women just have to be controlled and sat on - make them behave and if not - well that is what a solid punch or slap does right? Get there attention? Then there is rape which has nothing to do with sex what so ever...it is a act of violence - total violation of the woman's body by force - just to show her who is boss.Â
This is not just in our country - The Taliban kill women who try to get an education - Until women are treated as a equal and recognized for what they have to offer and not be treated as a piece of property - we will continue to stand up against the unjust actions.Â@colorowdy @Jeff KnopfA woman has the right do what she wishes with her body. The separate and unique human body within her during pregnancy does not fall under that control. Guns aren't the answer to things like the common cold but they are the answer to prevent women from being assaulted. Which is why it's so ridiculous when gun-haters bleat about "It's a compensation thing.." the women who use firearms to defend themselves against the violence One Billion Rising is bringing light to would find that statement insulting and degrading. Your comments about the Sharia influenced cultures is very very accurate and I wish more women's groups would speak up about this threat. If all the groups that are so passionate about saving Palestine had to experience the treatment their women dealt with as opposed to Israeli culture, I think they would change their tune.Â
What it is about! http://youtu.be/TstUAJZLGOs
The people who actually cause gender-based violence are not affected by this outburst. Instead, the only group that takes heed are otherwise good and decent men, who will now second guess everything they do so as not to be seen as "too masculine" or affirmative.Â
@JerryOh please. Men are going to be just fine. You can be as macho as you want... just don't hit anybody, K?