Call to Action! Day of Rage on Michigan State University’s Campus

To Whom It May Concern:

The Coalition Against Sexual Violence invites you to stand in solidarity with the Coalition Against Sexual Violence against Michigan State’s rape culture and the university’s silence in the face of sexual violence. We are organizing a Day of Rage on March 2, 2011 to show the administration, our student body, and everyone who will listen that we will not back down, be silenced, and we will continue protesting against the misogynistic environment that we encounter every day.

The Coalition Against Sexual Violence is currently in talks with the Administration at MSU who have agreed to fund a consent campaign in which we are designing. However, their silence in this issue warrants more activism from the Coalition and our cooperation on the consent campaign and with the administration will not pacify us.

Even if you have never been to a protest, even if you have never been to one of the Coalition’s actions, the Day of Rage is our chance to act together to demand action, to demand attention.

First, we will be painting the Rock. We will be taking the Rock back for activism, returning the action to its radical roots. We need people to be there defend the Rock.

Next, we will be demonstrating at the Rock throughout the day. Be there if you have ever witnessed rape culture, if you have ever been enraged by sexual violence, if you have ever seen MSU’s endorsement of violent rape culture and gender oppression.

AT 3:00 PM, we will be holding a SPEAK-OUT at the Rock. The mega-phone will be available to share your rage. This is your chance to make your anger and your voice HEARD.

AT 3:30, our Rally at the Rock will begin.

AT 4 PM, we will begin marching toward the ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. We need as many bodies as possible. We need everybody on campus who opposes rape culture to march these streets with us and make it impossible for our voices to be ignored.

AT 4:30 PM (probably a little earlier), we will arrive at the ADMINISTRATION BUILDING for a rally to protest the University’s inaction (and negative actions) in light of the incidents of sexual violence and prevalent rape culture at MSU. Our presence outside of this game will be a powerful statement against the violent rape culture which has been promoted and overlooked by MSU–not just the students, not just the athletes, not just Izzo, not just Lou Anna K., not just our professors, but everyone.

In the past, our demonstrations at the Admin building have been a powerful means of increasing visibility and have lead to talks with the administration.

These demonstrations are important and YOUR PRESENCE MATTERS. Your voice will make a difference.

We also ask you to publicly release a statement of solidarity with the Coalition in support of the Day of Rage and ask the University to take action with this case.

In Solidarity,

The Coalition Against Sexual Violence