Flurry of Events Today in Support of 'One Billion Rising'

City officials, community members, students, activists and even jail inmates are all taking part in various events in Oakland and other parts of the Bay Area today as part of an international campaign against domestic violence.

The One Billion Rising campaign is meant to call attention to the statistic that one in three women and girls worldwide will be beaten or raped in their lifetimes, according to organizers.

In Oakland, supporters will will gather at the downtown Frank H. Ogawa Plaza at 4 p.m. for a call-out and an opening dance performance ceremony, followed by a march from 4:30 to 5 p.m. From 5:15 to 7 p.m. the group will have dance performances and speakers, ending the event with some ecstatic dancing with with two DJs. All ages are invited. Participants are asked to wear the "V-Day" colors of red and pink.

An "Only in Oakland" performance and gathering at the First Presbyterian Church, 2619 Broadway, Oakland, from 7 to 9 p.m. is sold out, according to the organizers.

Local residents and businesses have organized several viewing parties. See the complete list of Oakland events here.

Many of the dances at One Billion Rising events will be to the song "Break the Chain," the anthem for the One Billion Rising campaign. An instructional video is attached above.

Information about other Bay Area events related to the campaign, as well as live video feeds of One Billion Rising events going on around the world, can be found online at www.onebillionrising.org.

Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Rockridge Patch also contributed to this article.