Friday, March 28, 2025- April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the Sequoyah County Coordinated Community Response Team/Sexual Assault Response Team (CCR/SART) has planned several events to raise awareness, show support for survivors, and emphasize that sexual assault will not be tolerated in Sequoyah County. Community members are encouraged to participate in these various activities to spread awareness and foster healing.
March 31, 2025— On March 31 at 10 a.m., the Sequoyah County Commissioners will hold their weekly meeting at the Sequoyah County Courthouse Commissioners Meeting Room. During the meeting, CCR/SART will ask the Commissioners to sign a proclamation to officially declare April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Sequoyah County. Everyone is welcome to attend and show their support for survivors and victims of sexual violence.
April 1, 2025—Teal is the designated color for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and on April 1, everyone is encouraged to wear teal or teal ribbons to show their solidarity. Participants can snap photos of themselves, their families, friends, or coworkers wearing teal and post them on social media with hashtags like #SAAM and #WearTeal to amplify the message and spread awareness.
April 5, 2025—From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Sequoyah County Health Department will host its 2nd annual 2025 Flutterfest in Marble City to promote awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month, Autism Awareness Month, and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. CCR/SART will have an information table at the event, offering resources and giveaways while engaging attendees in conversations about sexual assault awareness. For more information, contact Kassandra Briggs at the Sequoyah County Health Department. The event promises to be educational and fun, with activities for all ages.
April 7, 2025—On April 7 at 10 a.m., the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office will ask the County Commissioners to sign another proclamation at their weekly meeting to declare April 6-12 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW). This initiative is part of a nationwide effort to bring attention to the rights of crime victims and educate communities about available resources. Many crime victims may not be aware of the support and rights they have during the judicial process, and this proclamation aims to change that by spreading vital information.
April 14, 2025—Join CCR/SART for a Glow Stick Walk at Muldrow Town Park on Shawntel Smith Boulevard from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. This walk is meant to shine a light on the devastating crime of sexual violence and stand in solidarity with survivors. According to statistics from RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted, and every 9 minutes, the victim is a child. Despite these staggering numbers, many cases go unreported, and even fewer perpetrators face justice. Glow sticks and water will be provided at the event, but community members are needed to make the walk a success and show survivors that they are not alone.
April 30, 2025—The month concludes with Denim Day on April 30. Denim Day is held annually to challenge harmful myths and misconceptions about sexual assault. The campaign began after the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction, citing that the victim’s tight jeans implied consent because she must have helped her attacker remove them. In response, women in the Italian Parliament wore jeans to work as a form of protest and solidarity with the survivors. CCR/SART encourages everyone to wear denim on April 30, take photos, and post them on social media using the hashtags #DenimDay and #SAAM to stand against victim-blaming and raise awareness.
Sequoyah County residents are encouraged to participate in one or all of these events, to help spread awareness on social media, and engage in conversations about sexual assault prevention and survivor support throughout the month. By coming together as a community, Sequoyah County can make a powerful statement: “Sexual violence will not be tolerated, and survivors will be supported and heard.”
Lindsie Dyer, Staff Writer
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