2/13/2014

Valentine’s Day protest of violence against women at University of Redlands

Students at the University of Redlands will gather on Valentine’s Day this year to protest sexual violence toward women across the globe.

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion on campus will hold the event in the Hunsaker Plaza on Friday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. where all students will have the chance to come together in protest of sexual violence against women as part of the “One Billion Rising” movement.
“One Billion Rising” was initiated by Eve Ensler, the creator of the Vagina Monologues, which are performed on campuses every year on or around Valentine’s Day.
According to onebillionrising.org, the protest was inspired by the statistic that one in three women on the planet will be raped or beaten, which equals 1 billion women total.
During the inaugural events on Valentine’s Day 2013, men and women around the world gathered to dance in protest of this statistic.
“Students should participate in this movement because the world will not be able to put a stop to sexual violence once and for all unless everyone is involved,” said Women’s Center intern, Breona Modisett.
The U of R will take part in the campus version of the movement, which focuses on stopping sexual violence perpetrated on college campuses, increasing awareness, and focusing on making student safety a top priority.
“People on our campus should dance on Feb. 14 to show their support to end violence against women, and because it is good for their emotional health,” said senior Johnston student Megan Welles, who brought Ensler to speak on campus earlier this month.
Redlands’ Citizens Action for Peace organization will also be holding a demonstration in support of the One Billion Rising movement, Friday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. during their weekly peace vigil, held every Friday evening on the corner of Redlands Boulevard and Orange Street.
An invitation to the Redlands community was extend via press release: “Join us on Friday, Valentine’s Day, if you agree that women and girls have the right to go to school, work, shop, date, marry, enjoy leisure activities, unmolested. Girls, women, boys and men are all welcome to participate.”

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