Carrying That Weight Together protests, carrying mattresses, to oppose sexual violence and university inaction, in NYC and across the U.S. and Canada, 2014-2015

Sep 30, 2014 – Oct 29, 2014 (29 days)

A series of coordinated "mattress protests" across U.S. and Canadian universities and colleges were started and inspired by Emma Sulkowicz, a senior at Columbia University who reported being raped to the Columbia administration in April 2013. After a disciplinary process that found her alleged assailant not responsible, Sulkowicz began conducting a performance art piece that she called "Mattress Performance: Carry That Weight." As part of the project, Sulkowicz carried a standard twin XL dorm mattress everywhere she went on campus for as long as she and her alleged rapist both attended Columbia. In support of Sulkowicz, her close friends formed the Carrying the Weight Together website and planned a national day of action on and around Oct. 29, 2014, coordinating with students at over 130 campuses internationally.

Number of protests in this campaign	approx. 2	Student newspaper coverage	4 newspapers 4 articles
Total participants	at least 205	Largest recorded event	130 participants Cambridge, MA, USA · Oct 29, 2014
Participating schools	Hamilton College (1) Harvard University (1)	Participating locations	Clinton, NY, USA (1) Cambridge, MA, USA (1)
Top issues	Sexual assault and violence (2)