Remembering an Activist with Service

I don't usually wear my feminist hat on here at FM, but March 8th is International Women's Day. Events actually occur throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women while also looking at ways we can move forward to protect women around the world who are still facing oppression.

Each year there is a different theme that countries and organizations choose that focuses on the progress and the hope for progress. This year the United Nations has chosen as their theme: Women and men united to end violence against women and girls.

Another more local group has also chose this as a theme: The state of Kansas. But more importantly Governor Kathleen Sebelius has signed a proclamation recognizing it as "Jana Mackey Day in Kansas."

This isn't something I talk a lot about, because it was such a difficult time, but last year in the throws of the campaign season one of my dearest friends was murdered by her ex-boyfriend. She had dedicated her life to fighting for women, women's issues, equality, and against domestic violence.

We'd worked together on campaigns for good EMILY's List endorsed candidates and Jana went even further when she worked as Lobbyist for the National Organization for Women, working behind the scenes to pass more comprehensive sex education in Kansas - which we lovingly referred to as Abstinence Plus.

After her death, family and friends established a national campaign to help Jana's service live on through others. Symbolic of the number of people who attended her funeral, the Eleven Hundred Torches campaign urges hundreds of ordinary citizens to serve others. They've encouraged us to inspire others to work in our communities and use this day to not only honor women but to help develop stronger citizens everywhere.

Governor Sebelius has joined the campaign and is calling on all Kansans to set aside time on March 8th to volunteer in their communities - I'm asking that we all use this day everywhere, inspired by our mothers, our grandmothers, our wives, our sisters, daughters, and our friends to build a better world.

Important and quick facts on young women and violence from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence:

• 61% of female homicide victims were wives or intimate acquaintances of their killers.
• 10% of female homicide victims are less than 18 years old and only 9% are over 65.
• The average age of a female homicide victim is 36.
• More than 8 times as many African American women were murdered by a male they knew than were killed by strangers.
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