Art Protest
A 'people free' art protest against sexual violence and victim blaming was held on the 18th of March in Bournemouth. Dorset is taking a stand! People are now posting pictures of their SHOES on social media as a metaphor for standing up and making a change.
***Please show support by
1) Posting a picture of your shoes on social media #takeastand
2) Take the victim blaming opinion survey at www.askingforit.net
We may not be able to march right now, but our voices will be heard, and what we are saying is 'enough is enough'. Here's why
*Every woman you know has taken a longer route.
Has doubled back on herself.
Has pretended to dawdle by a shop window.
Has held her keys in her hand.
Has made a fake phone call.
Has rounded a corner and run.
Every woman you know has walked home scared.
Every woman you know. (Harriet Johnson)
*97% of women have experienced sexual harassment.
*1 in 6 men experience sexual abuse
Join us on FACEBOOK & Insta:
Page: @intheirshoesdorset
Thank you to BBC Radio Solent & BBC South Today for covering the event.
AA
Marienna Pope-Weidemann, Justice for Gaia (Gaia Pope's cousin,) said: "The nightmare lived by Sarah Everard's family, the one we lived when Gaia was missing and we learned she would never come home... there are no words for that kind of pain. Our stories should be exceptional. It is because they are not that we support this protest. Eight years ago the government signed the Istanbul Convention for the prevention of violence against women and girls and has failed every day for eight years to implement it. Instead we see a rising epidemic of domestic and sexual violence, life-saving support services slashed and conviction rates for rape plummeting. Dorset Police needs to take more action. There can be no justice for Gaia or Sarah or any of us without change. The government won't lead that change, so we must."