March raises assault awareness

According to the Center for Women and Families, someone is sexually assaulted every two minutes in the United States. In conjunction with April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Indiana and National Child Abuse Prevention Month, about 20 people ‘ dressed in black and dark colors to raise awareness and express grief ‘ took part in a silent march around the square in downtown Corydon early Thursday afternoon.
The event was sponsored by the Harrison County Coordinating Council for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
In the time that it took for the gathering to make its way around the square, two more people likely were sexually assaulted in America.
‘The walk is just to make the community aware that child abuse and domestic violence is here and should be a concern,’ Julia Baylor, child care director for Blue River Services, said. ‘This is a very real problem.’
Baylor and Rena Patton, child care assistant at Blue River, led the march around the square and held posters made by children.
Jennifer Gilleo, family advocate for the Center for Women and Families, said the Thursday in Black event has become a worldwide movement since it was started in the 1970s.
‘Women in Argentina started Thursdays in Black as a result of a number of people in their community who were disappearing and later found sexually assaulted and murdered,’ Gilleo said.
Several other events to raise awareness are planned for this month.
Blue pinwheels ‘ signifying something fun instead of sadness ‘ that lined Capitol Avenue last week are now at the Harrison County Community Foundation building in Corydon. Next week, they’ll surround the Blue River Services administrative offices in downtown Corydon. On April 25, the pinwheels will be at Palmyra United Methodist Church and Lincoln Hills Christian Church in Corydon, as the churches will hold Blue Sunday prayer services.
In addition, signs that were made by school-age children at Rainbow’s End will be placed in different areas throughout the community in the weeks ahead to help raise awareness.
‘The theme for the posters was ‘Every child deserves a home that is’ and then the children were supposed to fill in the blank and draw pictures,’ Baylor said. ‘I think, basically, all children need a safe, secure environment. That’s the best thing we can do for our children.’