Rally Up!
April ended with a march on our local campus to raise awareness of Sexual Assault in our community. Everyone was encouraged to wear denim (jeans) as well, in protest of a 1999 Italian ruling where the judge claimed that because a rape victim was wearing denim, she must have aided her assailant! The women of the Italian Parliment wore denim in a unified protest of the ruling. The movement grew and every year since, during April (Sexual Assault Awareness Month), women are encouraged to wear denim in a similar act of protest against ignorant myths of violent acts.
Here I am hugging our local shelter’s volunteer coordinator in front of the sign we marched behind. “Not On Our Campus!” Afterwards, we listened to many department heads pledge their support as well as hear many victims stand up and speak out! An emotional day…..
May 2nd, 2005 at 7:15 pm
You look beautiful and the photo which is the same as the one you sent me just great. However, the quality of the one I received was very poor. I am as always, proud of your efforts to highlight abuse of all kinds and once again, I applaud your diligent work in the areas of domestic and sexual abuse. You are loved.
May 3rd, 2005 at 7:16 am
Dawn u are amazing…I really am so happy for you and all you have overcome and the work you do to help others…
May 3rd, 2005 at 4:58 pm
Dawn, I just wanted to say that I just watched the movie Wonderland and I was numbed by it. It had me thinking about it all day and I think you have been through alot and you are an extremely strong human being and I commend you for that, you are so awsome. I am also going to read your book because after watching the movie I really wanted to hear your perspective and I want to learn more about you also I wanted to tell you that you are absolutely beautiful. thanks for your time, especially since I’m sure you have to read so many of these a day, your story has truly touched me, sincerely, Stephanie.C.
May 4th, 2005 at 12:43 am
Dawn, I just want to know if Susan Launius you know if she now is alive and if she currently where she lives? She have a new family? She have now a normal life in the USA? I’m just curious to know something about the only survivor. Please answe me! Thanks. God bless you and your family Dawn and USA!
May 4th, 2005 at 1:07 am
Dawn I want to say also that I like a lot Wonderland movie and I will read your book! Bye
May 4th, 2005 at 1:08 am
… I’m absolutely agree with you and with italian parliment women!
May 5th, 2005 at 6:02 am
God bless you Dawn for taking time to do volunteer in your community. I want to get involved more in my community but my job and family seem to be taking all my energy these days. Good luck. Angeline
May 10th, 2005 at 9:06 pm
Hi mu7 name is kate and i am very interested in reading your book and i cant seem to find it any where. if you could help me out that would be great. can someone please tell me where i can get it . thx
May 16th, 2005 at 9:48 pm
As a victim of sexual abuse in my teens, (and extreme emotional abuse later in my life, one leading to my ability to be vulnerable to the other in my opinion) I cannot count the times that I have been told that such things happening to me were my fault, that I brought them on myself, that I somehow invited them. I have fought long and hard to convince myself that I was a victim and to not let my abusers and those who side with them in some way, win. It warms my heart to see people fighting for understanding, and campaigning for support. Thank you for all your efforts, and for giving people like me another still burning candle to help light the way on our everlasting path of healing.
-Valerie