In response to more than a billion women who experience violence on the planet, playwright Eve Ensler and her amazing V-Day organization have created One Billion Rising. On February 14th, I'm joining V-Day in a global strike to demand an end to the violence. I honor Eve Ensler, she inspires me everyday. She travels the globe in pursuit of ending violence towards women and girls. V-Day contributions create safe houses, schools, education and much more.

Inspired by Eve and One Billion Rising I wrote a song called Rise Up. It is featured on the One Billion Rising website

On the 14th, I'll be performing in NYC's Grand Central Station mezzanine 12-3pm (above 4/5/6 platforms + near shuttle corridor). At 6:00 pm I'll join a group in Union Square march towards ABC Home and perform my song on the steps of the shore. Later at Hammerstein Ballroom an amazing party 8pm-12am will take place (more info here).

Also on Friday the 15th @8pm for my friends in Columbia County NY, I'll be performing my song at Stageworks 41 Cross Street, Hudson, NY during a fund raiser for The REACH Center and One Billion Rising. The event features the play The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler. I will be also perform musical interludes throughout the play. For tickets please call the Stageworks box office at: 518-822-9667 or use the link here to directly purchase tickets

words and music by Cathy Grier

One Billion Rising

I'm here to tell a story

something precious and fine

about a woman who made a difference in our lives

She's got a new plan

we're gonna make a stand

one billion rising up to end violence across the land

Rise. Rise Up

Rise, One Billion Rising

mothers fathers, sisters brothers

sons and daughters rising up, we're gonna rise up high

lifting our heads, waving our hands

making a choice to raise our voices across the land

Rise. Stand up

Rise, One Billion Rising

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The ONE BILLION RISING campaign began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than ONE BILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS. On February 14, 2013, V-Day’s 15th anniversary, activists, writers, thinkers, celebrities and women and men across the world will come together to express their outrage, strike, dance, and RISE in defiance of the injustices women suffer, demanding an end at last to violence against women.

"Dancing insists we take up space, and though it has no set direction, we go there together. Dance is dangerous, joyous, sexual, holy, disruptive, and contagious and it breaks the rules. It can happen anywhere, at anytime, with anyone and everyone, and it's free. Dance joins us and pushes us to go further and that is why it's at the center of ONE BILLION RISING," said Eve Ensler, V-Day Founder and Artistic Director. “With beautiful music and infectious lyrics from Tena Clark, amazing vocals by a talented group of V-Girls, and Debbie Allen’s bold choreography, Break The Chain is sure to inspire women and men worldwide to rise.”

The campaign is growing every day in the lead up to February 14, 2013, with women and men around the world signing on. To date, thousands of activists, over 13,000 organizations around the globe, and 176 countries have committed to participate and hold events. From the International Rescue Committee, to NOW to the AFL-CIO, to OXFAM Australia, to Sangat South Asia and Lila Pilipina, to Amnesty International USA, thousands of organizations are spreading the word amongst their millions of members in an effort to make the campaign the largest volunteer mass action ever.