On Saturday, October 22nd, students, artists, musicians, organizers, teachers and Black women entrepreneurs joined the Women’s Leadership Project , Media Done Responsibly, the Black LGBTQ+ Parent and Caregiver group and other community partners for the 3rd annual #Stand4BlackGirls Rally.
#Standing4BlackGirls is a powerful showing of solidarity for Black, BIPOC girls, women and gender-expansive folks. They took to the streets Saturday in Leimert Park’s only public rally to end rape culture and sexual violence.
“As survivors trying to thrive, many of us have been afraid to speak. We’ve been silenced. Victim-blamed. Shamed. Many of us have been told time and again that to air the dirty laundry of Black families, Black patriarchy, Black churches and Black communities is akin to treason, is a betrayal of “Black unity”.
There is Black disunity, when the bodies, minds and spirits of Black girls are violated.
We are saying no more, protect Black girl and Black women survivors of sexual violence at all costs, honor our stories, our trauma and our resilient resistance.
Black women and girls between the ages of 15–35 are more likely to die from domestic and intimate partner violence than are non-Black women and girls.
Approximately 60% of Black girls have experienced some form of sexual abuse by the time they are 18 and Black girls report in-school sexual harassment at higher rates than other groups.
Domestic and sexual violence rates have skyrocketed since the Covid-19 pandemic began, which highlights already existing socioeconomic disparities within vulnerable communities of color, where access to preventive health care is limited.
For Black girl sexual violence victims, silence and shaming from Black families, faith institutions, the community at large, and law enforcement contribute to the triple burden facing Black women and girls.
The #MeToo movement has been ineffective and MIA on redressing these issues.
The #Standing4BlackGirls coalition and task force mobilizes for expanding mental health, violence prevention education, jobs, housing, and reproductive justice resources for Black cis/straight and Black queer girls in L.A. County.
