We stand with all those in the streets across this country who do not and will never accept the murder of black people without justice.
All police officers involved must be arrested and charged with murder.
We Rise for George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and every single person killed unjustly by the police. We know that unless we confront and eradicate racism, sexism, neo-fascism and morbid capitalism, we will never end violence because these systems are predicated on violence.
“In this time of the Great Transition where we move from transaction to connection, from dying for profit to living for people and the earth, a major ingredient of this transformation will be seeing and honoring and valuing and protecting those who make our lives possible.” – V
25 May is our Founder V’s (formerly Eve Ensler) 67th birthday. To celebrate this day and to honor our commitment to frontline women, donate to the Rising in the Time of Corona Emergency Fund.
The rapid spread of coronavirus across the globe has revealed what has always been a glaring truth for so many of the essential workers who are the backbone of our society: inequity. From the people who pick our food to the people who deliver our packages, it is the working class and poor who are most vulnerable to the virus and the economic disaster that Covid-19 has laid bare. So often these frontline workers are women. Many of them are activists, young leaders, and women who are part of our movement.
From the United States to India, Guatemala to Thailand, we are hearing about great need from across our vast global network. While some are struggling with isolation and increased proximity to potentially violent situations within their homes, others are struggling with making rent, feeding their families and accessing masks and protective gear to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.
Women at the City of Joy. Photo: Régine Kamba
Workers and health care professionals in every country are on the front lines of the crisis, risking their lives to take care of other people, to keep food on the shelves, to deliver necessary services, and to heal those who are sick. For so many survivors, home is not a safe place. Advocates worldwide are providing shelter as well as posting information and resources online.
As the world faces the Covid-19 pandemic, activists, artists, survivors, youth around the world are rising to help impacted communities, frontline workers, and survivors.
The Covid-19 virus has in a short time blown open and revealed the destructive veins of neo-liberal capitalist racist patriarchy. With each day, we see that the majority of people who are dying are those who have been historically exploited, oppressed and marginalized by poverty, racism, xenophobia. The virus is revealing the violent, broken, greed and growth systems that we have been both tolerating and forced to live with for far too long.
As we rise in global solidarity to meet this moment, we now MUST ASK ourselves; “what is essential”, “who is essential”, “what would it mean to live with just what is essential”, and “how would we value, protect and uplift those who are doing the essential work”?
The Earth. Most essential to all life, is the most violated. Indigenous people of the earth have taught, embodied and been calling for the true alignment of humanity and the earth.
Across the planet, the majority of frontline workers, health care workers, home care workers, domestic workers, farmworkers – are women. As with the EARTH, they are the least valued, underpaid and least protected. Health workers without necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) despite putting themselves at risk every day, food and agricultural workers providing the food on our tables while they cannot feed their own families, the list goes on.
Now is the moment for our movement and movements across the planet to open the window to a new world, to refuse to go back to a “normal” that was never fair or functional for the majority of people.
It is up to us to envision and demand this future as we collectively rise in global solidarity and organized creative resistance.
Because neo-liberalism has FAILED across the world to take care of the health and well -being of the majority of human beings and the earth: We need to envision a world where ecology and economy live in alignment. Where the new economy is defined by LOVING CARE of the earth, and of the people.
Because in this pandemic, people are locked down, living in fear and uncertainty – it has become fertile ground for governments to control people, to curtail democratic human rights, to erode freedom of the press, and to exploit people and resources –for these forces to take root in the name of health and safety: We need to Rise for a world no longer defined by political or religious totalitarianism, hatred, violence against women, violence to the earth and to people, tyranny, fascism, patriarchy, misogyny, racism, ableism and capitalism.
Because the violence of hatred, greed, separation and destruction has chronically disabled our ability to have empathy: We need to create a world where community, trust, care and love are at its core. We need art, poetry, music, dance to inspire, connect and awaken us.
Because we have continued to take without permission from the Earth – which has led to her destruction: We need to re-imagine and manifest a new way of living – one that recognizes we are not separate or apart from the earth. We need to honor and respect nature and all of LIFE and not take more than our share.
Because it has been ingrained in us to operate within divisions – “us” and “them,” to believe that some people matter and others don’t: We need to build even stronger global solidarity to connect, in ways deeper than before, in order to dissolve hierarchy and come into our inclusive humanity. Will you dream, build, re-imagine, create, manifest this new world, and together RISE with us?
– One Billion Rising Global Coordinators
SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS AT THE V-DAY SAFE HOUSE FOR THE GIRLS IN NAROK, KENYA
The rapid spread of Covid-19 across the globe has led artists, activists, survivors, and youth around the world to rise to assist their impacted communities, frontline workers, and survivors. While many are staying at home to help flatten the curve, elderly and marginalized communities are without food, medicine, access to clean water, and other critical resources needed to protect from exposure. At the V-Day Safe House for the Girls in Kenya, it is no different.
“The situation in Kenya at the moment is that all the schools, social places, and marketplaces, have closed to avoid crowds. The girls are back at the safe house and keeping busy with their personal studies while observing social distancing measures, since we don’t know when the schools are reopening.” says Agnes Pareyio
Founder Agnes Pareyio (the founder of Tasaru Ntomonok, Chair of the Anti-FGM Board of Kenya, and UN Person of the Year for Kenya) and her team immediately took action to support the young girls escaping Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and the surrounding community. As Covid-19 hit and Kenya went on lockdown, girls studying at boarding schools took unexpected but necessary refuge at the safe house. Responding to the needs of the community, the safe house team is also supporting elders with food relief and other types of help.
This moment calls for our global solidarity now more than ever, to help and protect the most vulnerable – in the face of an unprecedented health crisis because we can only get through this together. Our movement is global, with activists in every country. Our Solidarity Rising series connects our activists together and we post their stories and experiences as they support marginalized communities.
These are unprecedented times. In response to these increasing needs, V-Day has created the RISING IN THE TIME OF CORONA EMERGENCY FUND to provide critical support grassroots activists leading their communities’ response to Covid-19.
“WHAT DOES FREEDOM REALLY MEAN?” – OBR PORTUGAL DOCUMENTARY OF ONE BILLION RISING 2020 IN ODEMIRA WOMEN’S PRISON
Since November 2019, Janka Striffler, OBR Global Coordinator for Portugal, with other activists, have spent time with the women of Odemira prison every Friday, while participating in workshops and activities. This year, in joint action with inmates of the Odemira prison establishment and community members, Janka Striffler and inmates raised the vibration to demand an end to violence.
“I can’t recall having ever been as nervous as I was before we first went. I had no idea what was going to happen. My imagination went crazy, “Who will we meet? Will these women listen to me? Will they want to listen to anyone?” After entering, it was such a relief to realize that these women aren’t at all different from me or you. They may have made a bad choice at some point or they may have been too poor to pay their bills – we know we live in a deeply unjust society – but basically, we are all the same. I had known this before, but in this moment, the realization sank deeper.”
Edited by Tamera Media and Isabel Rosa, Janka Striffler created a documentary showcasing the transformational process they went through together while preparing for and engaging in the project.
Today, V-Day wishes all a Happy Mother’s Day. As we reflect upon and honor the women who have given us life – whether that is through birth, chosen family, or adoption – we express our deepest gratitude and celebrate these mothers today and every day.
We give thanks for our most essential mother – Mother Earth – and we honor essential mothers everywhere. We honor caretakers on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic who are risking their lives as essential workers while still mothering, helping, holding, healing, caring, and loving.
SUPPORT THE V-DAY MOTHER’S DAY FUND FOR INCARCERATED WOMEN
V-Day is raising funds for our incarcerated sisters at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility this Mother’s Day to provide care packages of food and essentials to help ease conditions and to let them know we care. The women at Bedford are very close to our hearts. For years, V (formerly Eve Ensler) ran a writing group there for incarcerated women, and it is where she met Roslyn Smith, now V-Day’s Beyond Incarceration Manager.
Since 26 April 2020, there have been 21 positive cases of Covid-19 and 4 recoveries reported at Bedford Hills.
Covid-19 is an unprecedented and unpredictable global crisis, a defining moment in our history. This virus has affected everyone, but not equally. The deep structural inequalities in economics, health care systems, prisons, race, class and gender around the world are being exposed with devastating results to the most vulnerable people, particularly women.
The general population at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility was informed about the death of a fellow resident Lulu, on 29 April. There were 627 women housed there; now one is gone and we mourn for her with her family and friends.
“This is a sad time for all of us, especially for me. I did my entire 39 year sentence at Bedford Hills. The women there are my family and dearest friends. I love and care deeply for them and have vowed to fight for their rights and dignity. Most of these women are past the age of 50 and many have poor health issues that are not being addressed properly. Visiting has been suspended indefinitely and phone calls are limited to within an hour time frame along with taking a shower, washing clothing, fixing a meal or going to the kiosk to send an email or download a book. The mess hall has limited food to dispense and the commissary is short on supplies. The women must be so lonely and frightened at this time my heart is broken, especially for the children who haven’t seen their mothers since this began and for the woman in federal prison who was serving a 26-month sentence and died of Covid-19 several weeks after giving birth to her child while on a ventilator.” – Roslyn Smith
Your donation will provide much needed support and hope for women in these uncertain times. This is an opportunity for all of us to come together, help one another and heal each other even if they are incarcerated.
“LIKE A WOMAN” HONORS WOMEN & CALLS IN MEN TO THE MOVEMENT
As Mother’s Day approaches and with so many women on the front lines, we are playing “Like a Woman” on repeat. Written by singer/songwriter Ryan Amador, the song calls on men to recognize and celebrate women’s leadership, and to join the movement to end gender-based violence. “Like a Woman” places the issue of ending violence against all women and girls front and center and calls upon men to RISE.
“Three years ago, inspired by my involvement with V-Day and amidst the horror of our political shift, I wrote ‘Like a Woman’ to proclaim, from a man’s voice, my devotion to womankind. The song is a call to men to actively celebrate women and stand up against those who restrict women’s rights and/or perpetuate patriarchal abuse around the world. I am so happy to partner with One Billion Rising to bring this message far and wide.” – Ryan Amador, singer/songwriter of “Like a Woman.”
Produced by Hanan Rubinstein (Alicia Keys, Rita Ora, Nick Jonas) with a music video directed by Sekou Luke (“The Time is Now…featuring Chantal Georges and Thandie Newton”), “Like A Woman” has been played over a million times and has been featured at V-Day and One Billion Rising activist-led events across the globe.
In time for Mother’s Day, Ryan has just released a live version of the song. Watch the video here. The song was also recorded in Spanish recorded by Kike Jiménez (finalist on The Voice Mexico) and Sean O’Connell (Singer/Songwriter and translator of ‘Mujer Valiente’ and Spanish Language version of ‘Break The Chain’), and produced by One Billion Rising Mexico global coordinator Andres Naime.
The rapid spread of Coronavirus across the globe has revealed what has always been a glaring truth for so many of the essential workers who are the backbone of our society: the most essential are least valued, are treated as most expendable. It is the working class and poor who are most vulnerable to the virus and the economic disaster that Covid-19 has laid bare. And often it is women who are holding the frontline.
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and playwright, V-Day and One Billion Rising founder V (formerly Eve Ensler) bring you their second WOMEN WORKERS RISING Town Hall on Tuesday, 12 May featuring:
Saru Jayaraman, President of One Fair Wage, which supports service workers and has started a fund for those who are struggling Magaly Licolli, Co-Founder of Venceremos, a poultry workers’ organization based in northwest Arkansas
This is the second of two town halls (watch the first here) looking at the needs of frontline and essential workers, including women working in domestic violence shelters where the crisis is also being acutely felt, as numbers are increasing for women who staying home is not safe. The conversation will touch upon these essential workers and their experiences especially women and including healthcare workers, domestic workers, farmworkers, grocery store workers, food and agricultural workers, mortuary and funeral service workers, delivery people, garbage collectors, drivers, cooks, janitors, law enforcement, mass transit workers, and bank employees as our country faces this unprecedented pandemic.
Our goal is to share information with you about the challenges being faced by essential workers, as well as about the remedies we have at hand for supporting them.
As the world faces the Covid-19 pandemic, activists, artists, survivors, youth around the world are rising to help impacted communities, frontline workers, and survivors.
We invite you support these two new efforts created in solidarity. Your donation will provide much needed assistance and hope for women in these uncertain times.
The rapid spread of coronavirus across the globe has revealed what has always been a glaring truth for so many of the essential workers who are the backbone of our society: inequity. From the people who pick our food to the people who deliver our packages, it is the working class and poor who are most vulnerable to the virus and the economic disaster that Covid-19 has laid bare. So often these frontline workers are women. Many of them are activists, young leaders, and women who are part of our movement.
From Kenya to India, Guatemala to Thailand, we are hearing about great need from across our vast global network. While some are struggling with isolation and increased proximity to potentially violence situations within their homes, others are struggling with making rent, feeding their families and accessing masks and protective gear to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.
Workers and health care professionals in every country are on the front lines of the crisis, risking their lives to take care of other people, to keep food on the shelves, to deliver necessary services, and to heal those who are sick. For so many survivors, home is not a safe place. Advocates worldwide are providing shelter as well as posting information and resources online.
At the City of Joy in Congo and the V-Day Safe House for the Girls in Kenya, there is increased need as leaders mobilize to support their graduates and the surrounding community. In Congo, young women are taking leadership, making masks, providing food to those in need. City of Joy leadership is mobilizing internationally for necessary personal protection equipment for nearby Panzi Hospital. In Kenya, V-Day Safe House girls studying at boarding school took unexpected but necessary refuge at the safe house due to the virus. Elders in the surrounding communities are supported with food relief and other means of help from the team at the Safe House.
In response to these increasing needs, V-Day is launching the RISING IN THE TIME OF CORONA EMERGENCY FUND to support grassroots activists leading their communities’ response to Covid-19. We will use funds to rapidly respond to needs on the ground.
V-DAY LAUNCHES THE MOTHER’S DAY FUND FOR INCARCERATED WOMEN
From Roslyn Smith, V-Day Beyond Incarceration Manager: “Covid-19 is an unprecedented and unpredictable global crisis, a defining moment in our history. This virus has affected everyone, but not equally. The deep structural inequalities in economics, health care systems, prisons, race, class and gender around the world are being exposed with devastating results to the most vulnerable people, particularly women.
The general population at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility was informed about the death of a fellow resident Lulu, on 29 April 2020. There were 627 women housed there; now one is gone and we mourn for her with her family and friends.
This is a sad time for all of us, especially for me. I did my entire 39 year sentence at Bedford Hills. The women there are my family and dearest friends. I love and care deeply for them and have vowed to fight for their rights and dignity. Most of these women are past the age of 50 and many have poor health issues that are not being addressed properly. Visiting has been suspended indefinitely and phone calls are limited to within an hour time frame along with taking a shower, washing clothing, fixing a meal or going to the kiosk to send an email or download a book. The mess hall has limited food to dispense and the commissary is short on supplies. The women must be so lonely and frightened at this time my heart is broken, especially for the children who haven’t seen their mothers since this began and for the woman in federal prison who was serving a 26-month sentence and died of Covid-19 several weeks after giving birth to her child while on a ventilator.
We knew that this time would come and yet we diligently prayed for a different outcome. Unfortunately, 2 women have succumbed to Covid-19 while detained in prison. Despite the many efforts of Freedom Fighters/Advocacy groups for criminal justice reform and decarceration, who voiced their concerns by submitting letters, petitions, rallying, holding events and forums on Zoom, Facebook and other social media outlets about the safety and vulnerability of incarcerated people, many will die. Since April 26, 2020 there have been 21 positive cases of Covid-19 and 4 recoveries reported at Bedford Hills facility.
Are we so hell bent on punishment that we no longer see that all life is precious? Does being incarcerated now, because of Covid-19, denote a death sentence? We are supposed to be protecting the most vulnerable of society – our elders and those with underlying health issues that make them subsequently at risk of contracting Covid-19.”
V-Day is raising funds for our incarcerated sisters at Bedford Hills this Mother’s Day to provide them with care packages of food and essentials to help ease conditions and to let them know we care.
25 May is our Founder V’s (formerly Eve Ensler) 67th birthday. To celebrate this day and to honor our commitment to frontline women, donate to the 
