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“It’s still rape, no matter when she says ‘no’” was written in chalk on the sidewalk leading to the Muskingum Park gazebo Friday evening.

Inside the gazebo hung multicolored T-shirts, part of the local “Clothesline Project,” each covered with words and symbols penned by victims of abuse.

One blue shirt bore the words “The pain is almost too much to bear” from a victim of childhood sexual abuse.

“The different colors represent different forms of domestic abuse,” explained Heather Leeper, Sexual Assault Intervention Network coordinator at EVE Inc.

“The T-shirts can be designed by anyone who’s experienced domestic abuse—kids, teens and adults, both male and female,” she said, noting each shirt has therapeutic value and often helps victims release pent-up feelings.

“They can write whatever they want, to the community or to the abuser, but they can’t use their own last name nor the abuser’s last name,” Leeper said.

The Clothesline Project display was the focal point for Friday’s annual candlelight vigil marking April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Approximately 30 people, both men and women, attended the event.

Keynote speaker was Cheryl Cesta, a public safety teacher at Hocking College and owner of Cheryl’s Trainings, a self-defense and sexual assault prevention business. Cesta has worked with sexual assault and violence victims for 28 years.

“Most women and children are pretty leery of strangers, but many don’t realize it’s likely that sexual assault will come from someone they know—a relative, a teacher, even a pastor,” she said.

“Violence is everywhere in our lives; it’s in the streets, in our schools and churches, and in our homes,” Cesta said. “But to combat it starts within ourselves.

Cesta said juvenile sex offenders almost always have witnessed or experienced domestic violence.

“And once a person has been victimized, if he or she doesn’t get help, they’re open to even more victimization,” she said.

Cesta encouraged those who attended Friday’s vigil to become involved, especially to work with young people.

“It’s very important to work with young men and boys in the schools,” she said. “If we’re looking for a community solution to abuse and violence, that has to be part of it.

“Sometimes men have a learned behavior—how to shut down their feelings, but if that can be learned, it can also be unlearned,” Cesta added.

She said men have to know about coercion and how it leads to assault.

“Most young men who commit rape don’t use a knife or gun; they use some type of coercion, maybe through their conversation or through the use of alcohol,” Cesta said.

She stressed that getting involved with the education of men and boys about those issues, especially getting more men involved, is a key to prevention of such behavior.

Todd Deen of Parkersburg was among the men who attended Friday’s event.

“This is something more men have to be aware of and take part in,” he said. “And violence and assault affects men as well as women. But many men don’t know how to communicate with their wives or partners and may think of women as objects instead of persons.”

Leeper works with a group of boys at the Washington County Juvenile Center.

“They’re between 13 and 15 years old, and that age group responds very well to our counseling, once they become used to speaking their minds,” she said. “We teach them what sexual assault is and about prevention. We also teach them to talk to other men and boys about issues like sexual assault.”

Leeper said it was good to see the community response at Friday’s vigil.

“Unless the community speaks out for change, nothing will happen,” she said.

 

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