Celebrating Denim Day

    HOULTON — The staff at the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians participated Wednesday in Denim Day to bring more attention to Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Denim Day is an international movement to engage communities in the effort to end sexual violence.
    Wearing denim is a visible means to protest against the misconceptions that surround sexual assault. An 18-year old girl was raped by her 45-year old driving instructor. He was convicted, but later released on appeal. The presiding judge stated that because she was wearing tight jeans she must have consented to sex because the perpetrator would not have been able to remove the jeans without her help. The community was outraged and the world responded.
Contributed photo
SHOWING SUPPORT — The staff at the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians participated Wednesday in Denim Day to bring more attention to Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
    Every two and a half minutes somewhere in America someone is sexually assaulted. One in six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape. A total of 82.8 percent of rapes committed by someone intimate are not reported to the police.
    A survey showed 35 percent of college men who voluntarily participated in psychological research conducted at several universities indicated they might commit a rape if they knew they could get away with it. Two million children around the world are forced into prostitution every year. Law enforcement arrests for Internet sex crimes against minors are on the rise. Between 15,000 and 19,000 people with developmental disabilities are raped each year in North America.
    Survivors deserve support and assistance not shame and blame.  We want to build healthy relationships families and communities free from sexual/domestic and interpersonal violence. For more information/assistance call the Maliseet Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program at 532-640l or the AMHC Sexual Assault Services at 1-800-550-3304.