TRENDING

It was originally a one-girl-show, as Emma carried around her mattress in protest against sexual assault on campuses, refusing to stop carrying her mattress until the student at Columbia who had raped her was expelled or chose to leave school. Soon, the project turned in to an ensemble cast.

Slowly, the movement spread, first within Columbia as other students began helping Emma carry her mattress, and then, eventually, in to a full on protest among students, faculty, and staff first on Columbia’s campus, and then on college campuses around the globe.

The activists are part of what has been called “Carry That Weight Together,” the international network that stands against the way college campuses are handling sexual assault and supporting Emma’s vision by carrying around mattresses that have quotes such as “Carry that weight”, “I stand with Emma”, and “We are not alone.”

On October 29th, “Carry That Weight Together” had a day of action, where thousands of supporters world wide, who expanded over 130 college campuses, carried around mattresses and pillows to show their support and solidary with survivors of sexual and domestic violence, particularly rape victims.

From University of California in L.A., to Central European University of Budapest in Hungary, protestors could be seen carrying mattresses and signs, and openly speaking about their own experiences with sexual assault in order to raise awareness over the issue.

Take a look at some of the protests below.

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by Kate Radin | 2/1/2016