Berkshire County Joins Global 'One Billion Rising' Campaign on February 14

On Thursday, February 14, 2013, Berkshire County will join with activists around the world for ONE BILLION RISING, the largest day of action in the history of V-Day, the global activist movement to end violence against women and girls.

Berkshire community organizers, including Elizabeth Freeman Center, HAVEN:Human/Animal Violence Education Network and WAM Theatre, are calling out to the entire Berkshire community to join activists, writers, thinkers, celebrities, women and men across the world as we strike, dance, and RISE, demanding an end at last to violence against women. There will be countywide risings throughout the day and a ONE BILLION RISING 10x10 Upstreet Dance Party at 6:00 pm Upstairs at Spice Dragon in Pittsfield, MA.

"When you watch the ONE BILLION RISING video, in three short minutes you see the painful, common acts of violence women experience all over the world, and then you are swept with the passion and determination of women rising to act against it, even within the face of it. Think about it, one in three women in this world are beaten and raped, and our community is not immune", says organizer Nina Molin. "It has to stop and we all must participate."

People are encouraged to Rise Up in Western MA. To see a current list of events go to: http://www.facebook.com/WesternMaRising/events and click on Western MA Rising @ Berkshires or go to onebillionrising.org and click on 'find a rising near you'. To add a new event to Berkshire County Risings email kristen@wamtheatre.com

ONE BILLION RISING began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than one billion women and girls. One billion women violated is an atrocity. One billion women dancing is a revolution.

For more information go to onebillionrising.org