By: Rebecca Nagle, Codirector of Force: Upsetting Rape Culture
A group of community members came together at the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial Library in downtown Washington on Wednesday, April 2nd, to have a conversation about the Monument Project: a call to create a national monument to survivors of rape and abuse in the United States. The group strategized about concrete next steps for the Monument Quilt, which will be both a precursor to and way of getting buy-in for the Monument Project itself. The Monument Quilt is a collections of stories from survivors of rape and abuse that creates public healing space.
Attendees also discussed why we want a permanent monument, including the presence of permanent healing space for survivors, public education, and having a representation of the power we can have when we come together. Last, the group brainstormed ways in which the Monument Quilt can support current and future policy initiatives to improve response systems that support survivors as well as prevention efforts.
The event was organized by Collective Action for Safe Spaces and Force: Upsetting Rape Culture as part of International Anti-Street Harassment Week. CASS helped organize the advocacy effort that led to the recent passing of landmark sexual assault reforms in DC. Read more about the effort here.
Force just announced a 10-city tour for the Monument Quilt and are currently hosting a Kickstarter to fund the tour. Pitch in if you can!
