April is Sexual Assault Awareness
and Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is a busy month for our agency.  We are trying to let Monterey County know that Sexual Assault and Child Abuse happen in our community, but there are things that YOU can do to prevent it!  For example, stay informed on abuse issues (‘like’ us on Facebook), wear denim to combat rape myths (April 25) and talk to friends and family about positive ways to discipline children.

Below is a list of events that we have going on.  For more details, please go to our Events Calendar to see specific dates and locations.  Come out and show your support!

“Crime After Crime” – April 22, 4p.m.

The film “Crime After Crime” will be showing April 22 at 4:00 pm as part of the Temple Beth Israel film festival in Carmel Valley.  The event benefits the MCRCC.

“Time to Stop Rape” – Various Dates and Locations

One forcible rape occurs every 5.7 minutes in the United States
That is approximately….

11 rapes every hour - 264 rapes every day - 1, 848 rapes every week

It’s time to stop the clock.

We honor these survivors with a display on school campuses by placing a flag in the ground every 5.7 minutes as a visual representation of the prevalence of sexual assault.  You can see the event at Hartnell College, CSUMB, North Monterey County High School, Pacific Grove High School, Everett Alvarez and Marina High school and Gonzalez High School.

Flags CSUMB 2011

	(Click on photo for larger view)

Hartnell 2011

Denim Day – April 25,
with various other dates and locations

Denim Day (April 25) is a campaign to raise awareness and educate the public about rape and sexual assault. This movement arose from the outrage that followed an Italian Supreme Court decision in 1998 to overturn a rape conviction because the victim wore tight jeans. It was argued that she must have necessarily have had to help her attacker remove her jeans, thus making the act consensual. This decision supports the rape myth that what a person wears can contribute or lead to rape, instead of rape as an act of force.

We encourage you to wear denim on April 25 and support your classmates, coworkers, friends and family to do the same.  When Denim Day is recognized at high schools, My Strength and My Life club members pass out slips of paper that describe the case behind Denim Day along with denim bracelets to show their support and awareness of sexual assault. 

The official Denim Day is April 25, but Denim Day will be recognized at CSUMB, Pacific Grove High School, Salinas High School, Gonzalez High School on various dates.  For more information, a flyer to post at your school or work, please contact our agency.

Ongoing events

Child Abuse Prevention Library Displays

Library Displays
(Click on photo for larger view)

We have partnered with Castroville, Gonzalez, Soledad, Greenfield and King City public libraries to present Child Abuse Prevention displays.  This year’s focus is on parent/child communication.  Stop by the library to pick up some information and let them know that this issue is important to you!

Sexual Assault Awareness Month Java Jackets and Art Displays

Many coffee shops in Monterey County show their support in spreading Sexual Assault Awareness by putting up displays and attaching sexual assault facts to their coffee sleeves.  Stop by for some tea, coffee or a snack with a friend and talk about what you learned from your cup during the month of April.

Some of the participating coffee shops will feature work by artist, Armando Franco, who was inspired to create pieces reflecting sexual assault awareness month.  Learn more about him and his work: http://www.facebook.com/eternalcognition

Participating coffee shops: Rollick’s, Cherry Bean, Viva Expresso, Firehouse Coffee, B’s Coffee House, Cafe Lumiere, Parker Lusseau Pastries, The Alternative Café, Coffee Mia, Wild Plum Café and Bakery.