About 8,006 miles separate Statesboro, Georgia from New Delhi, India, but despite the distance, I am in the trenches with the women of India who continue to protest the barbaric gang rape of the 23-year-old medical student whose life ended as the result of being assaulted. This attack on the woman takes me to the front lines again to shout this battle hymn to the world: violence against women must end.
India, of course, is steeped in a culture that does not truly respect women, but theirs is not the only culture that perpetuates this mindset. It’s here in America too. Look at this information for eye-opening statistics.
I am only ONE voice on this globe, but this is my commitment:
I will be a voice to end violence against women.
- I will encourage women to speak up and speak out about the atrocities of rape and sexual assault. My message: rape is not about sex. It is about power. It is about torture. It is about brutality.
- I will be a “face” for what our society will not face: 1 in 4 women will be sexually assaulted.
- I will help save women’s lives by speaking publicly, thereby helping prevent such crimes in the future.
If there is an organization in your community that needs a speaker in 2013, I WILL BE THERE!