In the month of April, local community leaders recognized the National Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Month (SAAM) along with Child Abuse Awareness.
In the month of April, local community leaders recognized the National Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Month (SAAM) along with Child Abuse Awareness.
Kendra Russell with Women In Safe Home, Inc. (W.I.S.H.) along with Ella Mitchell, Katie Kelley and Allison Brown with Muscogee (Creek) Nation Family Violence Prevention Program (F.V.P.P.) and Shryl Hulme with Youth Emergency Services (Y.E.S.) held a Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Awareness Walk on April 15 in Checotah marching from the McIntosh County Democrat office down Broadway during lunch hour to Veterans Park.
Leaders from the local community including the Mayor of Checotah, Daniel Tarkington; the Checotah Chamber of Commerce President, David Prince II; the Checotah Project/Emergency Manager, Marcus Cunningham; several of Checotah’s Police Dept. officers, Chief Darren Glover, Richard Beaty, TJ Vanzant, Aaron Stubbs, Casey Fairchild and Jacob Mitchell; the McIntosh County Sheriff, Kevin Ledbetter; the McIntosh County District Attorney, David Pierce; Pastor William “Bud” Shackelford II and the McIntosh County Democrat, all walked to show their support and tell survivors that their voice has power and they don’t have to be a victim anymore.
Mitch Hunt, who is a survivor, was there to tell his story and his daughter’s story, who is also a survivor after being attacked on a college campus. Hunt offered some advice on self-defense for anyone who might need a refresher course and he passed out self-defense key rings which he now makes for anyone to be safe.
Kendra Lee, who is also a survivor, walked with her mother Brenda Bennett and just wants all victims to know they have a voice and their trauma is valid even if others have experienced worse.
“Even if the assault or abuse happened a long time ago, it matters,” Lee said. “Even if no one knows about the abuse or just a few close friends know, it matters. Victims deserve the space to talk about it. They deserve to be self-caring as they unload some of the pain they carry. Their pain matters. Their experience matters. Most of all, their healing matters. That’s why we walk.”
If you have experienced sexual assault or abuse, you are not alone. There is support and safety waiting for you, the local hotline is 918-682-7878.
The Eufaula W.I.S.H. office is 918-869-6767 and the Family Violence Prevention office is 918-732-7979. The Youth Emergency Shelter office is 918-689-2900. All three offices are located in Eufaula and are part of Under One Roof.