PHILADELPHIA, PA—This October has been the 30th "Domestic Violence Awareness" month, and across the country, thousands of people have spoken out against sexual harassment and assault—and with more than 50 women coming forward with sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein and others, the issue is close to the top of the national narrative! Social media news feeds have been flooded with friends and family sharing using the hashtag #MeToo—a movement actually started 10 years ago by Tarana Burke—to stand in solidarity and share their experiences of assault and harassment.
But whether or not a survivor chooses to share #MeToo, awareness of the problem is only the first step to eradicating sexual and domestic violence. Woodhull members and supporters believe that an integral part of sexual freedom is the fundamental human right to be free from domestic and sexual violence. As part of its work to end sexual violence, Woodhull is launching a new series of Sexual Freedom Town Halls.
One of Woodhull’s main goals is to end sexual violence and these town halls will include discussions of sexual and domestic violence as a human rights violations. Attendees will help craft and implement strategies to advance and secure the fundamental human right to sexual freedom at the state and local levels.
Town Halls will be one-day events in cities around the U.S., organized in partnership with local organizations focusing on sexual and domestic violence.
Local community members will be invited to come together to discuss issues at the intersection of human rights and sexual freedom, particularly those that impact the local communities.
The group will identify intersections with other issues and work together through the day to devise ways to collaborate with one another on specific campaigns addressing these issues.
Together, we will continue to stand with survivors and eliminate sexual violence.
Woodhull Executive Director Ricci Levy and the organization's Board of Directors have issued an invitation to activists everywhere to attend Woodhull's first Sexual Freedom Town Hall on Saturday, December 2, at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Philadelphia, PA from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.. Free lunch will be served and childcare can be provided if necessary.
Future Town Halls will be held in Dallas, TX on January 20, 2018, and in Atlanta, GA in March. Check back here for more information and future Town Hall dates.
