During the jury selection process for Harvey Weinstein’s trial in New York on Friday, protestors stood outside the courthouse chanting and performing a dance that originated in Santiago, Chile as a statement against rape culture, victim blaming, and patriarchy as a whole.
The song and dance, created by feminist theater collective Las Tesis, was first performed on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, outside the supreme court building in Santiago, Chile in November of 2019. The performance catalyzed protests in several European countries, before eventually making its way the the courthouse where Weinstein’s trial would be held.
According to Las Tesis the song, titled “Un Violador en Tu Camino,” which translates to “A Rapist in Your Path” is meant “to show rape not just as a crime against an individual woman, but the expression of a larger social issue.” It was performed in both Spanish and English on Friday.
[Keep arms loose at your side, march in place to the beat for the first eight verses]
El patriarcado es un juez,
Que nos juzga por nacer
Y nuestro castigo
Es la violencia que no ves.
El patriarcado es un juez,
Que nos juzga por nacer
Y nuestro castigo
Es la violencia que ya ves.
Es feminicidio
[Place hands behind the head, squat up and down]
Impunidad para el asesino
[Repeat movement above]
Es la desaparición
[Repeat movement above]
Es la violación
[Repeat movement above]
[Run in place, but without lifting feet from the ground; move forearms up and down in sync with the feet]
Y la culpa no era mía, ni dónde estaba, ni cómo vestía
Y la culpa no era mía, ni dónde estaba, ni cómo vestía
Y la culpa no era mía, ni dónde estaba, ni cómo vestía
Y la culpa no era mía, ni dónde estaba , ni cómo vestía
El violador eras tú
[Extend right arm straight out in front of you, pointing]
El violador eres tú
[Repeat movement above]