The Boone division of One Billion Rising will hold a flash mob dance in front of Plemmons Student Union at 4 p.m. Thursday.

The One Billion Rising organization has asked people all around the world to dance as part of an activist movement to stop violence against women and girls.

Chancellor Kenneth Peacock and Mayor of Boone Loretta Clawson have signed proclamations in support of the movement and the local activities of One Billion Rising, which will be read after the flash dance.

“I think it’s definitely important to get the progressive town of Boone involved in this good movement, and I hope to be there to show my support,” Clawson said.

Professor of anthropology Gregory Reck is a lead organizer of the local chapter along with seven others, including Susan Reed, a doctoral student at Appalachian studying educational leadership.

“One Billion Rising isn’t only a women’s movement,” Reck said. “Violence against women affects everybody; this is a human movement.”

Award-winning choreographer and member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities Debbie

Allen created a dance for the One Billion Rising event to the song “Break the Chain,” produced by Eve Ensler, founder of One Billion Rising.

Holly Roark, an instructor in the Department of Theatre and Dance, and Ellen Russell, a zumba instructor, have volunteered to teach the dance.

“The reason for the flash dance is to be a form of resistance against the violence, such as rape, sex trafficking and domestic violence against women,” Reck said.

“We all need to dance to join in together in solidarity to support women in being fully safe to dance without judgment or persecution because one billion women are silenced,” said Elizabeth DeSanto, graduate assistant for the Women’s Center and adviser for production of “The Vagina Monologues.”

Story: MICHELLE PIERCE, Intern News Reporter