Borderers ‘dance, strike and rise’ with the rest of the world
'One Billion Rising' event in Springwood Hall, Kelso held to support the end to violence against women and girls.
THE BORDERS’ first direct community action against violence towards women took place in Kelso on Valentine’s Day.
The Scottish Borders One Billion Rising at Springwood Hall last Thursday was part of world-wide risings, with the 250 local people taking part dancing in protest.
Violence Against Women coordinator with Scottish Borders Safer Communities, Andrea Beavon said: “Even working on it for the last month or so didn’t prepare me for the emotional impact of the messages left on the One Billion Rising wall, they were deeply moving and gave a sense of why some people were there.”
The event was organised by Scottish Borders Safer Communities, the Violence Against Women Partnership and the local V-Day activist Karen Lerpiniere.
Ms Beavon said: “This is the first time the Scottish Borders has taken direct action at community level to tackle violence against women on such a scale and the event attracted over 250 people, both men and women, who committed the one hour to ‘dance, strike and rise’.”
Attendee Elizabeth Wilkinson said: “I came because I wanted to show solidarity with women all around the world who’ve been abused, to show them they are not alone, it’s been such an emotional but inspirational night. I will remember this for a long time.”
Volunteers and partner agencies also helped organise the evening and Fitborders, who led the dancing at 7pm, were “absolutely fantastic and embraced the spirit of the whole event”, said Ms Beavon.
The evening included screenings of earlier local risings as well as others across the world. Visit TheSouthern’s Facebook page to see the Borders rising video.
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Weather for Galashiels
Wednesday 22 May 2013
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