Suzanne Lacy, Leslie Labowitz, Bia Lowe (Los Angeles, 1977)

In December 1977, Los Angeles waited in suspense as each new victim of the “Hillside Strangler” was broadcast on the evening’s news. Soon there were ten women, strangled and dumped on the sides of roads. Media sensationalized these victims’ lives, contributing to a climate of fear and superstition. In spite of a growing body of literature on the politics of crimes against women, stories focused instead on the randomness of the violence.

In Mourning and In Rage was a media performance to offer an alternative interpretation of the case that included a feminist analysis of violence. Participants from the Woman’s Building, the Rape Hotline Alliance, and City Council joined with the feminist community and family of the victims in creating a public ritual of rage as well as grief.

A motorcade of sixty women followed a hearse to City Hall, where news media reporters waited. Ten very tall women robed in black mourning climbed from the hearse. At the front steps of City Hall, the performers each spoke of a different form of violence against women, connecting these as part of a fabric of social consent for such crimes. After each of the ten performers spoke, the motorcade women, now surrounding City Hall steps, yelled, “In memory of our sisters, we fight back!” The tenth woman, clothed in red, stepped forward to represent fighting back against all forms of violence.

City Council members voiced support to the press and the Rape Hotline Alliance, pledging to start self-defense classes. Holly Near, songwriter and singer created "Fight Back" the night before for the event, and sang it acapella in the City Plaza. The performance reached its target with extensive coverage on local and statewide news.