Sexual assault awareness event to address rape, racism, healing

Aishah Shahidah Simmons, an African-American feminist lesbian and award-winning documentary filmmaker, writer and activist, will visit the University of Wisconsin–Madison April 16-17 to help draw attention to the issues of sexual assault, homophobia and racism.

The event is a highlight of April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Campus and community members are encouraged to attend one of the many events designed to end sexual violence in Dane County, including a series of Ta’i Chi meditations on nonviolence, Chimera Self Defense workshops conducted in Spanish, and a discussion of the campus "hook-up culture" and how it relates to consent and alcohol.

In addition to lecturing and leading workshops, Simmons and Monica Dillon, a critically acclaimed musician, Hurricane Katrina survivor and film producer, will be screening and discussing their landmark film, "NO! The Rape Documentary."

At 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16, at the Memorial Union Play Circle, Simmons and Dillon will present "For Women and Men of Rage and Reason," a cinematic, poetic and musical journey from victim to survivor and activist in the international movements to end violence against women. They will screen Simmons’ film "Breaking Silences" and perform "Stage of Rage," a choreographed poem. Free tickets are available at the Memorial Union Box Office.

Screenings, followed by a question and answer session of "NO!" will take place on Thursday, April 17 at 2:30 p.m. in Memorial Union, (TITU) and at 8 p.m. in the Ogg Hall Commons.

The groundbreaking documentary explores the international reality of rape and other forms of sexual assault through the first person testimonies, scholarship, spirituality, activism and cultural work of African-Americans, including Rev. Reanae McNeal of Imani Productions; Barbara Smith; Johnnetta Betsch Cole, president emerita of Spellman College; and Elaine Brown, former chair of the Black Panther Party.