More than 30 women and men gathered on the sidewalk along Grandview Drive holding signs and banners for an end of violence against women and girls Friday.

Kalispell and Whitefish Soroptimists and Abbie Shelter organized the event in observance of International Women’s Day.

On Thursday, President Barack Obama signed a reauthorization of an expanded 1994 Violence Against Women Act, which includes protections for domestic violence victims. This was an exciting moment for Hilary Shaw, executive director for the Abbie Shelter.

“It guarantees the continued protection of victims of violence and guarantees funds to support organizations like ours,” Shaw said.

Diane Yarus, vice president of the Kalispell Soroptimists, said Soroptimist International took up the theme in the wake of much publicized violence against women worldwide.

“It was just time to take that stand,” Yarus said. “Enough is enough.”

Shaw added, “Violence is still part of women’s narratives. One in three women worldwide are victimized by sexual violence in their lifetime so that’s a sixth of the population.”

The recent trial of University of Montana quarterback Jordan Johnson and his acquittal of rape charges is evident that stereotypes surrounding sexual assault persist, Shaw said. Shaw said she was giving a presentation on sexual assault at a local school when she heard the verdict.

“The need for awareness on sexual assault hasn’t decreased. There’s still the same misunderstandings, the same myths, the same misinformation about sexual assault that has been around for decades,” Shaw said. “It’s the same rape story every time — over-focus on victim blaming — it’s the same lack of understanding about sexual assault and consent. Until we see a paradigm shift in how we view sexual assault, how we view human trafficking, how we view the sexualization of women and girls, our work isn’t done.”

Cameron Bond, 19, and Miranda Devereaux, 18, were out holding signs to show their support in an end of violence against women and girls.

“The men are the abusers, so if me and my brother here are standing out here like this, men are going to look at us and say that you can stand up against it,” Bond said.

Devereaux said that it’s also important for young women to learn about types of abuse and options for getting help and ending violent relationships.

“You normally don’t get taught about things like that in school, you don’t get taught about abusive relationships, you don’t get taught about what it looks like, do research, consider options and stay safe,” Devereaux said.

Abbie Shelter has a 24-hour crisis line for women seeking shelter due to violence at 752-7273.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].