HomeMy Public PortalAbout03222022 Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
WHEREAS, In Washington State, 45% of women and 22% of men report having experienced
sexual violence in their lifetime, and 29% of the survivors who were supported by
community sexual assault organizations statewide identified as Black, Indigenous and
people of color in 2019. Of those identifying ethnicity, 21% identified as Latinx/Hispanic;
and
WHEREAS, Rape is among the most underreported crimes for many reasons, including
victims’ fear of being disbelieved or further traumatized within the legal system. Additional
barriers, such as language, immigration status, gender bias, and systemic racism further
oppress and silence victims; and
WHEREAS, Individual and community impacts of sexual violence are rooted in and
compounded by racism, sexism, heterosexism, and other forms of oppression. Black,
Indigenous and other people of color, people living in poverty, LGBTQ+ people, elders,
people with disabilities, and other people targeted by oppression are disproportionately
affected by sexual violence in significant and complex ways; and
WHEREAS, Sexual violence exists on a continuum of behavior and includes racist, sexist,
transphobic, homophobic, ableist or other hate speech. This ranges from rape jokes to
verbal harassment to threats of rape and assault. Harassing comments and behaviors that
take place online can and do traumatize victims, and their impacts should not be
minimized; and
WHEREAS, Working together as a community, we can alleviate the trauma of sexual
violence by ensuring supportive resources are available to all survivors, while standing up
to and actively disrupting harmful attitudes and behaviors that contribute to sexual
violence.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mason Thompson, join advocates and communities throughout King
County in taking action to prevent sexual violence by standing with survivors and
proclaiming April 2022 SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH.
Signed this 22nd day of March, 2022.
___________________________
Mason Thompson, Mayor
Mason Thompson (Mar 23, 2022 06:44 PDT)
Mason Thompson