Feminist Valentines Day Special x Strike for Climate
Feb 14
6.30pm
National Gallery Steps Trafalgar Square
Starting in Chile, where the feminist movement has been at the centre to the latest wave of uprisings, ‘The Rapist in Your Path’ has spread across the world being performed in over 200 cities and 40 different countries. The chorus “The rapist is you/ It’s the cops/ The judges/ The state,” resonates across the globe. It firmly positions sexual violence as a structural problem, produced by states and powerful institutions.
We can no longer separate ecological issues from the conditions in which we work and live. Women are told that our suffering is inevitable — even “natural”. We are joining the climate strike to reject that lie. We are taking action to demand an end to a global system that benefits a small group of people and violently destroys the lives, communities and environments of everyone else.
The climate strike must be a feminist strike.
Following our ABOLISH RAPE: A Public Discussion, we invite you to join the Women’s Strike Assembly for a mass performance on Valentine’s Day to demonstrate solidarity and support with those who experience sexual violence as well as shine a light on the the violence and ecological injustice inherent in the system.
WHAT TO WEAR: All black with red accessories – shoes, ribbons, scarves, lipstick etc
JOIN THE PRACTICE SESSIONS:
Women’s Strike Assembly Open Meeting: Sunday 9 Feb 5pm
ABOLISH RAPE: A Public Discussion: Wednesday 12 Feb 9pm
HOW TO PRACTICE AT HOME:
LYRICS IN ENGLISH:
A Rapist In Your Path
Patri-archy is our judge
That imprisons us at birth
And our punishment
Is the violence you DON’T see
Patri-archy is our judge
That imprisons us at birth
And our punishment
Is the violence you CAN see
It’s femicide.
Impu-nity for my killer.
It’s our disappearances.
It’s rape!
And it’s not my fault, not where I was, not how I dressed.
And it’s not my fault, not where I was, not how I dressed.
And it’s not my fault, not where I was, not how I dressed.
And it’s not my fault, not where I was, not how I dressed.
And the rapist WAS you
And the rapist IS you
It’s the cops,
It’s The judges,
It’s The system,
It’s the President,
This oppressive state is a macho rapist.
This oppressive state is a macho rapist.
And the rapist IS you
And the rapist IS you
Sleep calmly, innocent girl
Without worrying about the bandit,
Over your dreams smiling and sweet,
Watches your loving cop.
And the rapist IS you
And the rapist IS you
And the rapist IS you
And the rapist IS you
Explanation of meaning of the moves (in Spanish)
Lyrics in English and Spanish and a video/guidelines for moves: https://womensmarch.com/2020-dance
A video from the Guardian showing performances around the world: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5AAscy7qbI