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Embracing their voice In #MeToo era, effort's reach amplified

Livingston County News - 4/5/2018

Seven hundred twenty orange flags spell out "#MeToo" at Lakeville and Volunteer roads just east of the village of Geneseo as part of an effort - like the social media hashtag that went viral last fall - to raise awareness of the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment.

The display is part of RESTORE's annual "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" campaign.

Lauren Berger, outreach and education specialist for RESTORE, said the #MeToo movement spread a lot of awareness regarding sexual harassment and assault last fall and complements the campaign theme of "Embrace your voice."

"We saw many people embrace their own voices and the voices of their loved ones through #MeToo. We hope that those passing by recognize the volume of flags and feel a call to action to embrace their own voices - both to support survivors and to call out problematic jokes, posts or statements about survivors and about sexual violence," Berger said.

The number of flags is intentional and represents a startling statistic: that every two minutes, or 720 times a day, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted.

The flags will be displayed for the month of April.

For each of the last four Aprils, RESTORE, a program of Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, has created displays to demonstrate the effect of sexual assault.

Berger said the effort has contributed to more support for those affected by sexual assault.

"In the last four years the climate has shifted a lot," she said. "People are supporting survivors instead of asking, 'What did they do?' They are focusing on what the perpetrator did and more people are embracing being part of the solution."

The displays are intended to support survivors, challenge "locker room talk and help raise awareness of resources available to become educated about the issue, help survivors and ultimately to prevent sexual assault."

Berger planted the flags Monday afternoon with assistance from Miranda McKinney, a RESTORE counselor and advocate serving Livingston and Wyoming counties, and Danielle D'Onofrio, an education and outreach special for RESTORE and Planned Parenthood.

Similar displays have been installed at the Government Center in Warsaw through a collaboration with the Wyoming County District Attorney's Office, on the lawn of the Genesee County Courthouse in Batavia, and at the Planned Parenthood health center on University Avenue in Rochester. In Orleans County, signage has been posted at Pullman Memorial Universalist Church in Albion.

Additional flag displays will travel across the region through the month, hosted by colleges that RESTORE partners with for advocacy, education and support.

A display is planned April 18 and 19 at SUNY Geneseo. Other on-campus events will also include a "Take Back the Night" rally and march to raise awareness of and end sexual violence toward women, and "Yards for Yeardley," a walk to support an end to relationship abuse by educating young people about healthy and unhealthy relationships.

Resources

RESTORE maintains two, 24-hour hotlines. For residents of Livingston, Wyoming, Genesee and Orleans counties, call 1 (800) 527-1757. Residents of Monroe County may call (585) 546-2777.

Information is also available online at www.restoresas.org.