SFWAR Walk 2009
As you know, Something Good aims to be as focused on creating good in the world as reporting it, sooooo I went on a walk. Not just any walk, but the SFWAR (San Francisco Women Against Rape) Fourth Annual Walk Against Rape. It was awesome!
Roughly 800 of us walked 3.5 miles from the San Francisco Justin Herman Plaza over to beautiful Dolores Park. It was a gorgeous day; the walkers were in high spirits, shouting out call and response lines like “Show me what community looks like.” – “This is what community looks like,” and there was a flat bed truck with a band of drummers following us the entire way! We were, in fact, marching to the beat of our own drum(s). I love it.
We walked, stopped traffic, inspired honks of support from drivers and thumbs up from onlookers, and people danced to our beat as we made our way through the city. I have been an avid walker lately, can’t get enough walks; what better way to satiate my craving than to do it with a strong community and for a worthy organization.
We ended, as I mentioned, in Dolores Park where people were hula hooping in the sunshine- another one of my insatiable cravings lately, thank you kindergarten- laying in the grass, and dancing to a live band. There were then speakers and dancers. The Dancers were amazing (you can check them out on MySpace: Imani’s Dream). The speakers were great; survivors shared stories, insight, and humor with everyone who listened.
It is surprisingly peaceful to walk the streets shouting words of support and empowerment to anyone who would hear them. I must say it is understandably empowering and inspiring to make heard the messages of hundreds of people all in one marching, swaying, laughing and dancing crowd.
As devastating as it is to know that people are raped, it is reassuring to know that there is a community and family to support survivors and foster growth and healing. Good work is being done, and that’s good to know.
Walkers surpassed the organization’s goal and raised roughly $55,000, for SFWAR, which is the primary provider of rape crisis services in San Francisco. More about the organization can be found in our story on it, and on the website: http://www.sfwar.org/.
According to the program I received upon arriving in Dolores Park, the Walk Against Rape aims to:
1. Raise awareness in San Francisco about issues of sexual violence.
2. Provide a space for survivors of sexual violence to heal and celebrate their survival.
3. Educate communities about the resources available in the aftermath of an assault.
4. Raise money for San Francisco’s only community-based rape crisis center.
5. Create community around shared experiences of sexual violence to diminish the shame and isolation so often experienced by survivors.
6. Make visible and vocal what has historically been hidden and unspoken.
Mission accomplished, keep up the good work folks.