Protests mount against Chris Brown
fundraiser • A Winnipeg woman is protesting an upcoming concert by controversial R&B singer Chris Brown by holding a rival event of her own — a fundraiser for domestic violence victims.
Susie Parker said she had a “gut reaction” when she heard the singer — who famously pleaded guilty to a bloody assault on his girlfriend Rihanna — was coming to Manitoba on Aug. 29.
“I can’t stand the fact that there are women out there who are living with this horror every day,” Parker said.
“Their kids are living in fear. That doesn’t seem right to me, so I wanted to do something positive.” So Parker decided to give people an opportunity to give their money to a worthy cause rather than Brown. She put out a call on social media for anyone wishing to donate a venue for the event to raise money for Winnipeg’s Osborne House, a shelter for victims of domestic abuse.
A bowling alley immediately offered space. The donations and offers of help started to pour in.
“It snowballed from there. It was just crazy. It was fantastic,” said Parker.