Courthouse Demonstration Raises Awareness About Violence Towards Women

Men and women gathered on Friday afternoon to raise awareness about violence and rape against women at the Tom Green County Courthouse.

The event, called 1 Billion Rising, was sponsored by the Concho Valley Rape Crisis Center. Pepsi and Sam’s Club provided lunch for the event; t- shirts were donated by Dragonlady Tees, with contributions from many other local businesses.

“One billion rising was started a few years ago by Eve Endsler, she wanted to raise awareness about the global epidemic of violence against women,” Karla Payne, Executive Director for CVRCC said.  “We live in rape culture. Part of what that means is that we still blame the victim. We ask what the victim was doing wrong, what the victim should have done differently, why the victim did what she did."

Payne mentioned clothing and alcohol, providing example of the way society twists the focus from the crime to the victim, questioning why she was drinking, why she was dressed that way or why she went to a place alone. 

"That kind of thing takes the focus off the perpetrator," she said sternly. "We need to start asking why the perpetrator did what he did. The majority of perpetrators are male. We are not male bashing, which we have been accused of. We love men, we think men will help us to end this violence against women, a lot of men already have, and we appreciate that.” 

After Payne concluded her speech, Crystal Garcia-Ward, Director of Community Outreach and Engagement for CVRCC, took to the mic to rally the crowd. 

“My revolution is a turnaround for the status quo," she said. "My revolution is necessary for my children to grow in San Angelo. My revolution is local, but this problem is global. We aren’t alone. My revolution is within my own heartbeat. My revolution is needed, it cries for change to break the system built on shame and blame. My revolution is overdue. My revolution is love, not the kind that sweeps you off your feet, not the kind that knocks you to your knees. My revolution is being written in a story. My revolution is teaching respect, equality, and trust. My revolution is right here, right now, rising for justice. My revolution is with you rising here, today with me.”

The event, 1 Billion Rising, is an event held in cities throughout the United States as part of the V-Day movement, a global movement to end violence against women.

After various speakers had fired up the crowd, several of those present began to dance to music as the event continued on through lunch.