By Jo Campos
Hundreds of people from different sectors
and nationalities have turned up for the One Billion Rising gathering in Hong
Kong, led this year by its founder, noted playwright and women’s rights
activist Eve Ensler.
The “risers” toured
several parts of Central on Feb 21 where they were joined by pockets of
supporters before they all marched together to Edinburgh Place where they
danced to the OBR songs.
Ensler was accompanied
by OBR global director Monique Wison, and both received strong support from
migrant support organizations like the Asian Migrant Coordinating Body,
Gabriela Hong Kong and the Mission for Migrant Workers.
The day-long event was
kicked off by synchronized dancing, followed by a media meet-up, before the
organizers began the tour around Central.
The hour-long parade
around the key district was highlighted by the participation by workers from various ethnic groups, notably
the Filipinos and Indonesians, who held banners and chanted their concerns as
they marched.
The marchers attracted
a lot of attention along the way, as they stopped at key areas to make speeches
and perform the OBR flash mob dance.
Back at Edinburgh, the
marchers all danced together before the main program started.
Wilson, a noted stage
actress and activist, sang the OBR theme, “I Am Rising”, before giving an
emotional speech thanking all who took part, and urged them to continue to rise
and speak up against the violence against women and children.
It was her third
appearance in the Hong Kong celebration of OBR since it started three years
ago.
Ensler said she was
awed by the dedication, courage and support by the migrant workers and everyone
who participated in the event. She called on everyone to continue to rise, act
and listen as what the OBR slogan conveys.
Ensler also took time
to listen to the concerns and problems migrant workers face in Hong Kong.
V Day or the One
Billion Rising for Revolution is a global campaign calling for an end to
violence against women and children around the world.
