The performance took place in Los Angeles, California in 1977 as a response to the rapes and murders covered by the media in the "Hillside Strangler" case.
For feminist activists in Los Angeles involved in the movement to end violence against women, this analysis was unacceptable.
[3][4] The performance consisted of a large funeral motorcade of black-clad women led by a hearse from the Woman's Building to the Los Angeles City Hall.
[1] By making this performance public as well as highly crafted for media coverage, Lacy and Labowitz looked to highlight not only the deaths of the ten women killed by the Hillside Strangler, but the significantly larger population of women victims whose stories went uncovered by mainstream media.
[7] In Mourning and in Rage was highly covered by the press and resulted in increased support from Los Angeles City Council members and a pledge from the Rape Hotline Alliance to provide self defense classes.