Jane Fonda Introduces '1 Billion Rising' Campaign to City Council

Monday’s West Hollywood City Council meeting received quite the surprise presentation, as actress and activist Jane Fonda was on hand to ask City Council for its support for the ‘V-Day: 1 Billion Rising' campaign, which is aimed at protecting women from violence.

“V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls,” said Lindsey Horvath, V-Day California Outreach Coordinator. “On the 15th anniversary of V-Day, Valentine’s Day of 2013, we will get one billion women and the men who love us to rise in a commitment to end this violence against women and girls.”

Fonda approached the podium to a round of applause and addressed the City Council during the public hearing portion of the evening, imploring Councilmembers to promote the initiative within the city.

“This movement has already raised $90 million across the world,” Fonda said. “Where better than West Hollywood to be the first city on this earth to sign in support of this action.”

Fonda, a former resident of West Hollywood, is on the international board for the V-Day organization, and apparently, her endorsement was enough for Weho City Council, which signed on to support the initiative on Monday night. 

"[Jane] has been with us for quite some time," Horvath said. "That’s why she was here tonight, to support this campaign, and she’s working on a number of projects for the organization.”

Both Fonda and Horvath stated that one in three women experience violence in their lifetime, whether they were raped or beaten, and that on Valentine’s Day of 2013, V-Day is pushing for one billion men and women to fight this abuse by means of a “dance revolution.”

“It’s a global dance action,” Horvath said. “The vision is to see women walk out of their jobs, their homes, their schools, whatever their everyday life is, and take the streets in a global dance action. We're dancing to end violence, we’re dancing to end bullying, we’re dancing to empower women.”

On the ‘1 Billion Rising’ website, there are links on how to begin a strike or join one, as well as access to a toolkit in preparation for the Valentine’s Day event.

“We’re very excited that this is happening,” Horvath said. “We’re on the ground in over 160 countries across the world. We already have millions on board and we have over 5,000 organizations signed up with us. We’re grateful to have such a strong and diverse coalition.”