Interview
What inspired you to support Thursdays in Black?
Lopez: I became aware of the movement when I joined Globethics, a sister organization of the World Council of Churches, in 2010. There are so many annual days marking different causes, and it was so refreshing and needed and powerful to find this global weekly campaign which is so needed, and to keep it up front and center.
How do you raise awareness about Thursdays in Black and overcoming gender-based violence?
Lopez: Personally, I’ve served Thursdays in Black by keeping myself informed, and dressing in black, and wearing the badge, and also raising the campaign with friends, with people who come and speak to me, saying “did you know about this?” and on social media. There are so many posts on Twitter, now X, and Facebook, and other platforms.
At Globethics, our mission is to promote ethical leadership, including self leadership, through education and policy engagement. We’re a sister organization of the World Council of Churches because we agree on fundamental values to do with dignity and justice and peace and integrity and responsibility, so this is why we agree with each other on this, that it’s so important to fight for peace on all levels individually, institutionally, at the government level, that there be no violence because part of ethics is this principle of “do no harm.” It’s rather fundamental and painful that it’s still needed. But it is, and we look for positive change through changes in thinking, and changes based on values, and looking for inclusive peace.
Are there any strategies or initiatives you've found particularly effective in overcoming obstacles or increasing participation if efforts to overcome violence?
Lopez: When it comes to overcoming violence, what we found over the years, the most important thing is that you get people to sit together. There’s a dialog, because what happens is that when a person becomes an object, that’s when bad things happen. When you forget that they’re a person, that’s when violation happens, when that which is inhumane happens. So first of all there’s a meeting, because when you meet people you can’t not see them, if you know what I mean. When people are seen as people, as subjects, they stop being an object, and you can’t treat them like that anymore.
What are your hopes for the future of "Thursdays in Black"?
Lopez: What I would really like when it comes to the Thursdays in Black movement is that it’s not needed anymore. Unfortunately, realistically, that’s not going to be the case for some time to come, and all efforts must continue—weekly, daily—to keep this in our minds, to stop violence against women, to stop rape and gender-related violence in general. I’m thinking also of those who are most fragile, also boys who are in difficult situations, who are put in vulnerable situations as well. I would really like for Thursdays in Black to not be needed but until then, we must continue to keep that message going out.
It’s an honor and I’m humbled to have been asked to be a Thursdays in Black ambassador. It’s a big responsibility to take on this call but it’s a call that’s needed. Please do your part.
Learn more about Thursdays in Black
Thursdays in Black now has a Youth Edition (WCC news release, 21 December 2023)
