Cleveland Rape Crisis Center is listening.

June 3, 2020

 

We are holding space for the voices that need to be heard.

Survivors of rape, sexual abuse and sex trafficking share their pain and suffering with us every day. Many are now expressing their heartbreak, grief, rage and fear over the murder of George Floyd and countless other Black Americans. Survivors are telling us about the toll that being Black in America takes on their ability to be healthy and safe. They are reminding us of the compounding effects of sexual trauma, intersecting with racial trauma, in their daily lives.

The Black community is telling us that you are tired. You are telling us that we have not been using our power and privilege in a way that promotes safety and healing for all.

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center is listening. And we are called upon to act.

We condemn racism. We condemn police brutality. We condemn each and every form of violence.

We accept the magnitude of both the challenge and the responsibility to dismantle white supremacy through our words, choices and actions. We invite members of our community, especially those who hold privileged identities, to join us in this work.

We accept that our vision – to eradicate sexual violence – can only truly be achieved when we end racism and all forms of oppression. We can all play a role in creating a community free of violence and oppression.

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center will keep listening. We will continue to hold space for the voices that need to be heard. We will continue to speak and act in ways that honor our commitment to all survivors.

Black Lives Matter.