Monday, April 23, 2012

WOMEN UNITE – MARCH IN SOLIDARITY





WOMEN UNITE – MARCH IN SOLIDARITY

What:  A call to action to defend Women’s Rights with a March in Solidarity
Why: A nation-wide event to focus attention on current legislation and efforts that challenge rights of women and families.
When:  2:00 PM - Saturday, April 28, 2012
Where:  Meet at Memorial Park Band Shell and march through downtown Rapid City.
Who: Local citizens who wish to join with Americans from across the United States to tell members of Congress and legislators in all 50 states “Enough is Enough!” should attend. If you are troubled by the prevailing trend of laws, especially in South Dakota, that threaten women’s right, you are encouraged to participate. If you dislike negative campaign language and the anti-women rhetoric in the media, please plan to ‘march in solidarity’ with others that feel as you do.

Miscellaneous: Participants are asked to bring relevant signs that are appropriate for a family-friendly event.

More information can be found at www.unitewomen.org, on Facebook at Women Unite! (what is your link)? March in Solidarity or contact us.

In Western South Dakota, Contact: Holly Sortland at 605-786-5256

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Occupy Rapid City to highlight Miss Representation

Guest post from Occupy Rapid City:
This Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 12:45 pm Occupy Rapid City will walk from Main Street Square to KOTA in order to shine a light on the role of the media in disempowering women. KOTA continues to broadcast Rush Limbaugh in spite of his documented attacks on women. He has repeatedly and infamously referred to any women who are politically active on equality issues as “femi-nazis.” He seems to think that the only appropriate role for women in the 21st Century is to remain barefoot and pregnant.
Not only does KOTA continue to broadcast Rush Limbaugh, but it also aligns itself with the one percent corporate interests in this country, rather than the ninety-nine percent of the rest of the population. The more general role of the corporate owned and controlled media locally and nationally in marginalizing and disempowering women was exposed in a recent showing in Rapid City of Miss Representation. This film highlighted the many ways that women are sexualized and distorted on a daily basis in our media culture. It is a documentary film by Jennifer Siebel Newsom and features interviews with Condaleezza Rice, Katie Couric, Nancy Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Geena Davis, Rachel Maddow, Margeret Cho, and Rosario Dawson. It documents how the media only wants to focus on trivial and sexualized aspects of women, instead of having an honest discourse on the issues that women are raising. One example in the film was the media’s focus on Sarah Palin’s legs and physical appearance instead of the substance of her political stances on the issues.
The recent local showing of this film was sponsored by PROJECT RESPECT.ORG, an organization that “works to combat sexual and gender based violence amongst South Dakota’s Native American youth by promoting healthy, responsible and respectful relationships.”
Proceeds from the event went to WAVI-Working Against Violence, Inc., an organization that “works to create a community free of domestic abuse and sexual assault through advocacy, education and support services.”


The following statement is by Jim Peterson of Occupy Rapid City:
As you may or may not be aware, the Occupy Rapid City group has weekly demonstrations every Saturday, beginning at noon at Main Street Square. The overarching theme is always corporate control of every facet of our lives, but a weekly emphasis is chosen based on a timely issue currently in the limelight. This Saturday, April 21, we will try to bring to the attention of the public/media the concerns depicted in the recently shown movie Miss Representation. More specifically we will try and connect the dots between the media and the objectification and degradation of women. We will meet as usual at the Square, at noon, with appropriate signs and then around 12:45 walk the two blocks to the KOTA studio to once again shine a light on Rush Limbaugh’s disgusting behavior, vis-à-vis women. The previous demonstration at KOTA was an appropriate response to a specific episode, but the bigger issues pointed out by Miss Representation need to be addressed also.
We would encourage every woman you know (and men !!) to join us for an hour or so this Saturday. The reality is that one short demonstration is not going to affect significant change, which is why Occupy groups step up continuously…. PLEASE take the time to join us and encourage all your friends and group members to do likewise. Signage which speaks to the points raised in the Miss Representation film would be most helpful and appropriate. If anyone has any questions have them call me at (605) 342-6245. Thanks for all that you do to make our community a better place……..Jim Petersen
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For More Information:
Mary Ellen Uptain 605.341.0724
Jim Peterson 605.342.6245
Occupy Rapid City occupyrapidcity.org