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Janesville One Billion Rising event targeting domestic violence

JANESVILLE — One in three women worldwide will be beaten or raped in her lifetime, according to a news release from the One Billion Rising campaign.

With a world population of 7 billion people, that includes more than 1 billion women and girls, the release said.

To bring attention to the problem, the global activist group V-Day has created One Billion Rising, a campaign will include events around the world on Thursday, Feb. 14.

V-Day’s mission is to end violence against women and girls by raising funds and awareness through benefit productions of playwright/founder Eve Ensler’s play, “The Vagina Monologues.”

The public is invited to take part in the Rock County event from 1:45 to 5 p.m. Thursday in the Community Room of Basics Food Co-op, 1711 Lodge Drive.

Representatives from various local organizations that support and assist victims of violence will be present, including the YWCA of Rock County and the Rape Crisis Center for Rock County.

Janesville activist and author Vivian Creekmore will speak, and Janesville City Council members and Rock County politicians have been invited to attend.

An estimated crowd of 200 people is expected to take part in the event, said Sarah Carter of Janesville, a survivor of violence and a V-Day activist.

In 2012, more than 5,800 V-Day benefit events took place and were produced by volunteer activists around the world. To date, the movement has raised more than $90 million.