"In Mourning and in Rage ..."

Abstract

Mourning and In Rage . was conceived as a response to Leslie and Suzanne's very personal grief and rage over the incidents of rape-murder in Los Angeles which are labeled the Hillside Strangler Case. After reading about the tenth victim, they decided to design a media event which would include the collaborative participation of women's organizations, city government, and members of the women's community. Seventy women dressed in black gathered at the Woman's Building in Los Angeles. The women received instructions for the event which began when ten actresses dressed in black mourning emerged from the Building and entered a hearse. The hearse and two motorcycle escorts departed from the Building, followed by twenty-two cars filled with women in black. Each car had its lights on and displayed two stickers: Funeral and Stop Violence Against Women. The motorcade circled City Hall twice and stopped in front of the assembled members of the news media. One at a time, nine seven-foot-tall veiled women mourners emerged from the hearse and stood in a line on the sidewalk. The final figure emerged, an active woman clothed in scarlet. The ten women faced the street as the hearse departed while women from the motorcade procession drove slowly past in silent homage to the mourners. Forming a procession three abreast, the mourners walked toward the steps in front of City Hall. Women from the motorcade positioned themselves on either side of the steps forming a black-clothed chorus from a modern tragedy. They unfurled a banner which read Memory of Our Sisters, Women Fight Back. As soon as the media had positioned itself to record this second part of the event, the first mourner walked toward the microphone and in a loud, clear voice said I am here for the ten women who have been raped and strangled between October 18 and November 291 The chorus echoed her with memory of our sisters, we fight back! as she was wrapped with a brilliant red scarf by the woman clothed in red. She took her place on the steps, followed by the second mourner. Each of the nine women made her statement which connected this