Community vigil in New Haven bringing awareness about sexual violence
Honoring survivors and bringing awareness about sexual violence. The Women and Families Center held a community vigil Thursday evening to educate and strengthen a commitment to help victims.
It was a solemn but powerful evening at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), where survivors of sexual violence courageously shared their stories during a community vigil focused on healing, support, and awareness.
“The hardest thing for a survivor is being afraid no one’s going to believe them,” Anne Malisk, director of sexual assault service at the Women and Families Center, said.
Advocates said that fear is why events like this matter. The Women and Families Center, a nonprofit, said there’s been a rising need for support in the last three years. Last year, they helped nearly 600 survivors, and the year before, just over 500.
“I just know our numbers keep going up every year with the amount of people we served,” Malisk said.
She explained that most cases involve someone the victim is close to, which can make coming forward even more difficult. That’s where their sexual assault crisis services come in. Advocates can be there for hospital visits or giving statements to police.
“Empowering someone is also very important. Listening, believing them, and being non-judgmental,” Malisk said.
And that’s something a Portland police officer tries to do. He was honored at the vigil for his trauma-informed approach to sexual assault investigations.
“When we’re able to see it through at the end of the day, it’s the conviction. Ultimately, hopefully it helps the survivor get through that even better,” Officer Donald Scranton with the Portland Police Department said.
There was also a portion of the event where survivors spoke about their experiences and how they overcame them. Malisk said it’s incredibly brave for them to do that to show that they’re not alone.
“For a survivor to speak out in a room like this, it’s truly incredible,” she said.
Anyone in need of help can reach the 24-hour crisis hotline for the Women and Families Center at 1-888-999-5545 (English) and 1-888-568-8332 (En Español).
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