One Billion Rising: Global action to fight back against domestic violence

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - This Valentine's Day Fort Wayne joined a global movement to end violence against women and girls by bringing together people from all walks of life to dance in solidarity. 

Photo Gallery: One Billion Rising

One Billion Rising has been endorsed by 13,000 groups and leaders across the globe from the Dalai Lama to Jane Fonda who have identified ending violence against women as a pivotal issue of our time.  According to the United Nations, around the world one in three women will be directly impacted by violence or abuse in her lifetime, which translates to one billion people.  On February 14, 2013, people in 182 countries responded to the call to strike, dance and rise by leaving their jobs, desks and homes, and standing up to give voice to an issue that has often been silenced.

"There's no shame.  This is something we have to shine a spotlight on in order to cause a shift so that violence and abuse is not a norm.  It's not something we hide our households.  It's something we talk about, we heal from, and something that we have the collective power to change," organizer Lori Block-Keys said.

Locally, volunteers started the movement that inspired collaboration amongst over 20 organizations, with hundreds of people signing on to rise and stand for respect as a marker of the Fort Wayne community. One Billion Rising Fort Wayne took place at 12pm on February 14th.  The Fort Wayne TinCaps stepped up as the first event sponsor by donating Parkview Field as the venue.

Click here to watch others rise in cities across the world.