MARQUETTE -- Women and men in 203 countries came together in the largest day of mass action ever to stop violence against women and girls on Thursday.
It's called One Billion Rising. It's a worldwide effort, centered around ending the culture of abuse against women and girls.
One of three women on the planet will be beaten or raped in their lifetime. That equals one billion women.
The campaign, launched on Valentine's Day 2012, began as a call to action based on the staggering statistics.
Thursday, people across the world came together to express their outrage. One Billion Rising is a simultaneous creative form of protest with dance. The campaign also utilized the power of social media to demand action on a global scale.
"Today in Marquette, we've joined that national and global movement," said Movement member, Amy Kordus.
Kordus says women's issues, such as the undocumented but continuing prevalence of domestic violence, rape and sexual harassments and political injustices, were highlighted in the event.
For Kordus and her Rising group, it is about opening the public's eyes to the problem.
"We want to raise awareness and let people know that we're here and that Marquette is an area that is forward and progressive in thinking about women's issues," Kordus said.
Their rise to empower women will affect future generations.
"It's really neat to be a part of all of this and to have people from Northern Michigan University joining us, people that are community board members and just some really concerned citizens," Kordus said.
The effort invited the global audience to rise together against violence and show the world what one billion looks like throughout the 48-hour worldwide event.
For more information, click here for the One Billion Rising official website.
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