“You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.”
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. While it is the mission of the Sexual Assault Crisis Center to promote awareness all year long, during the month of April we make a concerted effort to reach out and bring awareness to the issue of sexual assault. British abolitionist William Wilberforce once said, “you may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.” As a pioneer in the crusade to end slavery, Wilberforce sought to abolish slavery through awareness and activism. He fiercely believed that once we are made aware to the sufferings of others, we can no longer feign ignorance – only inaction. Become aware of this: every 107 seconds, another American is sexually assaulted and 98% of all rapists will never spend a day in jail. However, research shows that sexual assault has fallen by more than 50% in recent years (U.S. Department of Justice. National Crime Victimization Survey. 1993-2013). This is due in part from increased public awareness and prevention, social activism, and stricter punishments for those convicted of sexual assault. While we should be happy with the progress made in the last 10 years, we also have a long way to go to end sexual violence in our communities. This April, the Sexual Assault Crisis Center invites you to join in making our community a safer place to live. In addition to spreading awareness, here are four things you can do this April:
