Peace House encourages our community to support this event designed to celebrate diversity and address violence experienced by members of our community.
From the coalition:
V-Day Is the global activist movement to end violence against all women (cisgender and transgender), gender diverse people, girls and the planet. It was begun by Eve Ensler, and has now grown into a global grassroots organization called One Billion Rising. One Billion Rising is the biggest mass action to end violence against women in human history. Originally designed to focus awareness on the violence experienced by women and girls, the mission has expanded to include violence against all marginalized groups.
“Join us in Ashland on February 14, 2023 for our local event in solidarity with the many other actions around the world that will be held on that day. The event is designed to bring us together in dance and song, focusing awareness on the violence experienced by women, girls, cisgender, transgender, gender non-conforming, BIPOC, Jewish, Asian, those in poverty and by the many other marginalized people in our community.
Together, we will create a joyful, creative celebration of our diversity, express our solidarity by denouncing the violence that many of our marginalized community members experience. The event will include the community flash mob dance protesting domestic violence; BREAK THE CHAIN, which is performed across the world, as well as music, powerful speakers, and educational booths.”
Presenters and Performers Include
Marta Quest and a drumming circle of women will start the evening off followed by Lisa Ebony, who will sing SAY HER NAME. Lisa is the leader of the Ashland BIPoC Sanctuary and co-host of Ashland’s local community radio station KSKQ including The Chop Shop and Friday Nights music show, The Music That Makes Us.
Dr. Louise Paré, global women’s spirituality educator and author will speak about the current situation of Ukrainian women and girls regarding human and sex trafficking.
Alicia Gerrity: SOU student body president, will perform BODYlogues which creates a brave and liberating space that addresses systems of privilege, hierarchies of power, societal mistreatment of bodies, and the expectations placed upon them. Through this, BODYlogues seeks to challenge toxic cultural expectations and promote full autonomy, Sovereignity, bodily acceptance and pride.
Women With Wings choir and the Holy Misfits will be lifting us up with their harmonies!
Educational booths will include Community Works Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Sex Trafficking Resource Center; SART the sexual assault response team; SOPride and “Breaking Trafficking Traps” in Ukraine. Jackson County library will be offering a sampling of books reflective of diversity and inclusion.
More information on V-Day
V-Day believes that when art and activism come together, they have the power to transform systems and change culture. Founded by V (formerly Eve Ensler), activist and author of The Vagina Monologues, V-Day has inspired people all over the world and raised collective consciousness about how violence and gender intersect. V-Day is a movement and an example of how the power of art can be used as a liberating tool for transformational holistic education and social justice.
“Dancing insists we take up space, and though it has no set direction, we go there together. Dance is dangerous, joyous, sexual, holy, disruptive, and contagious and it breaks the rules. It can happen anywhere, at anytime, with anyone and everyone, and it’s free. Dance joins us and pushes us to go further and that is why it’s at the center of ONE BILLION RISING” – Eve Ensler