DELAWARE WATER GAP, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — April is sexual assault awareness month and one non-profit in the Poconos is standing up for the voiceless.
Signs that read ‘No is a complete sentence’ and ‘I march with survivors’ are scattered inside Safe Monroe Tuesday.
The nonprofit in Delaware Water Gap serves as a safe haven for those affected by domestic and sexual abuse. They are making sure their voices are heard during the month of April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
“We have served over 150 people just last year, adults and children for sexual violence, sexual harassment, child sexual abuse so it does happen regardless of where you are.”
Executive director Lauren Peterson is getting ready for its ‘Take Back the Night’ event that kicks off at 5 pm Thursday at Courthouse Square, ending at East Stroudsburg University.
“We demand justice, we support survivors. We want safe streets, safe homes, safe communities, safe schools.”
The march has been happening for more than 30 years.
T-shirts here hold powerful messages, made by survivors in Monroe County. They’ll be on display Thursday at ESU, all part of the march’s clothesline project.
“Sometimes people think with sexual violence, ‘Well what were you wearing? Was it something that was revealing?’ nine times out of ten, it was something as simple as a t-shirt and jeans, or pajamas, or a sweatsuit, things like that.”
One in three women and one in six men are affected by rape or attempted rape.
A difficult topic, but Peterson says she hopes people start feeling comfortable with being uncomfortable to work toward prevention.
“The more we talk about it and the more that people are open to having the conversation, we’re able to shine a light where there’s only darkness before.”
In addition to Safe Monroe’s ‘Take Back the Night' event in Stroudsburg on Thursday, the nonprofit is also hosting its annual gala on the 25th.
