Facebook
Twitter
YouTube "Photo:")
On Wednesday October 29, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. Angela Rose spoke at the Mount Union event "Take Back the Night" about her abduction and sexual assault. Mount Union students gathered in the Campus Grounds to hear Rose speak and to raise awareness about sexual assault.
In 1996, on a summer night, seventeen-year-old Angela Rose was walking through a parking lot after leaving her job. She noticed a man walking behind her but didn't think much of it. Before she even knew what happened, this man kidnapped her, and tied her up in the back of his car.
The man took Rose to a forest preserve where he sexually assaulted her. After this, he dropped her back off in the parking lot where the abduction had taken place.
Rose was angry after this incident and she went directly to the police station to file a report. She explained to the audience at Mount Union how the police officers treated her. They kept insinuating that maybe it was her fault that this man was after her. They asked her what she was wearing and why exactly she was out that late.
Rose got very heated about this subject because most people don't understand how huge this type of violence is. She told the audience that one in three women and one in six men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetimes. Rose said: "I knew I couldn't be silent."
She founded an organization called PAVE in February of 2001. PAVE is an acronym for "Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment". PAVE's motto is "Shatter the silence of sexual violence." Along with this group, Angela Rose has also produced a documentary entitled "Transition to Survivor."
Rose explained that so many people all over the world are victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, and most people do not say anything. She said that sexual assault is the most under reported crime.
October has just ended, but it was domestic violence awareness month. It is important to always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Being college students, it's crucial to be safe when going out at night. Nine out of ten college women who are raped never report the crime.
Another thing to remember along with being aware of your surroundings is to report these incidents. It can lead to an arrest of the attacker, and save future victims from physical and psychological pain.
Also, if a friend ever trusts you enough to tell you something like this happened to him or her, never say that you don't believe them. This also, according to Rose, happens way too much. Some victims have even told their own parents, and they just brush it off and think that their child is making it up.
Before the event began, audience members were handed two zip ties and told to write a word on them that empowered them. One zip tie would be worn by each of the audience members and the other one would go toward an art piece that is going to be displayed in museums in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The reasoning behind using zip ties was that this was what Rose's attacker had used to tie her hands behind her back.
The event was very powerful and following the speech there was a moonlight march across campus. Each participant was given a glow stick and paraded around campus to show unity and empowerment.
Rose's attacker is in prison for life. She hopes to continue to educate and empower America to eventually put a stop to sexual violence.
Be the first to comment on this article!