"After some brainstorming, we decided a fair for women’s self-defense might be just the thing to get women to come out to hear our message," Dr. Bratich said. Rowe and Bratich are organizing a one-day event September 15th.
Vendors and speakers will be available to inform women about what they can do legally in Cook County to defend themselves. The event will run from 10 am to 3 pm at Chicago's Bella Luna Banquets Hall, 6136 S. Pulaski on Chicago's Southwest side - otherwise known as House Speaker Mike Madigan's home district.
One in four girls will be sexually assaulted before she's 18 and one in three women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime, the fair's leaflet says. Karate, self-defense techniques, awareness and information on Illinois' refusal to pass the concealed carry law will be topics of discussion throughout the day.
"Illinois is the only state in the nation which does not have any law on the books allowing for concealed carry of a handgun. In the past 75-years of our nation's history, women have made great strides in their rights and independence," Bratich said.
It's time women learned to stick up for themselves.
"Everyday the women of this state make life and death decisions, and everyday they do it without any of us here giving it a second thought. Yet, the past lawmakers of our state, through their legislative actions, have for all intents and purposes declared these same citizens unfit to defend themselves should they be violently attacked." Bratich said.
And even stronger, she went on.
"They have by omission, decided that these responsible, taxpaying citizens are frankly too stupid to carry a tool on their person."
The self-defense fair is free and open to the public.
