By KATRINA PENAFLOR Campus Life Editor
Abby’s House brought the campaign, One Billion Rising Revolution, to Western’s campus Feb. 12, for its third year. One Billion Rising is a national event that started in 2012, with its focus to end violence against women.
According to www.onebillionrising.org,“One in three women across the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. That’s one billion women and girls.”
One Billion Rising has taken place in over 200 countries, and people can show their support by rising against these injustices.
The One Billion Rising Revolution campaign continues the previous year’s One Billion Rising for Justice campaign.
Promoting the campaign brings awareness to the issues and Andrea Hugmeyer, assistant director of Abby’s House, said she hopes students will, “recognize the incredible amount of violence women experience in their lives.”
Abby’s House played music and provided free hot chocolate to students. They also set up tables and posters with statistic about racism, ableism, classism, sexism, and heterosexism for students to recognize the different systems of oppression.
One of the posters included a quote from Lilla Watson, a woman’s activist from Australia: “If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us walk together.”
There was also a large sign for students to paint their handprints to support the campaign.
Jessica Galbraith, who is doing her practicum with Abby’s House, said she likes “the idea of getting the youth involved.” The many handprints on the sign was evidence of Western’s students support for One Billion Rising.
The event was set up on the front plaza of the Werner University Center. Being in such a high traffic area gave more students the opportunity to notice what was happening. The campaign “forces people to think about it,” Hugmeyer said.
“We want them to think about social injustice,” said Abby’s House advocate Jessica Fontaine.
One Billion Rising was the kick off for the upcoming Valentine’s Day events Abby’s House will present in February, such as the Vagina Monologues.
“Together we can rise for revolution,” Hugmeyer said.
