Aslan Shand
Women, children and men of Byron Shire will be gathering at dawn on February 14 at Main Beach, Byron Bay to dance and raise awareness about violence against women.
V-Day is a global action that sees one billion people across the world rise up and recognise and resist violence against women.
Local organiser Zenith Virago said, ‘The truth is shocking – according to the United Nations, one in every three women will be physically or sexually abused in her lifetime – that’s one billion women across the world.’
This will be the eighth consecutive year that V-Day has been marked in Byron Bay.
It will be followed by evening performances of the Vagina Conversations on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 February at the Byron Community Centre.
Proceeds will go to the Women’s Resource Service, Byron Escape Fund. Tickets can purchased at the Byron Community Centre.
‘Every February, women and others rise in countries across the world to show our local communities and the world what one billion people looks like,’ said Zenith.
Main Beach at dawn
‘In Byron Bay, women, men and children will gather at dawn on Main Beach, in solidarity with women around the world. We rise through dance to express joy and community and celebrate the fact we have not been defeated by this increasing violence.
‘We rise to show we are determined to create a new kind of consciousness – one where violence will be resisted until it is unthinkable. We will dance in defiance on V-Day. The ‘V’ stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina.’
Put on your favourite red clothes and join in the V-Day celebrations at Byron’s Main Beach. Everyone will gather at 6.30am to prepare for the dance at 7am.
Everyone is welcome to be loud, counted, make a sign and join the dance.
For more information go online: www.onebillionrising.org or www.vday.org.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
