PUEBLO – The Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing Thursday featuring Brett Kavanaugh and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford brought the issue of sexual violence to the center of the national conversation.
In Pueblo, we asked professionals about how women should handle reporting an attack, no matter how much time has passed.
News 5 spoke to an expert at the Pueblo Rape Crisis Services Center about information everyone should know.
Kristi Roque, executive director for PRCS, said she believes the testimony itself serves a critical function in keeping sexual violence at the forefront of national discourse.
And while Thursday’s testimony can empower some sexual assault victims to come forward, Roque said Blasey Ford’s story can trigger negative memories of their own attacks.
“Watching Dr. Ford’s testimony could be inspiring to many survivors,” she explained. “I think what we need to keep in mind too, though, is that it is also very triggering and so being inundated – via news, social media outlets can be incredibly triggering for survivors.”
On a national level, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network reported that it experienced the largest call volume since the #MeToo movement recently spread across social media.
We are experiencing unprecedented wait times for our online chat. If you are able, we encourage you to call 800.656.HOPE (4673) or reach out via chat tomorrow. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
— RAINN (@RAINN) September 27, 2018
Pueblo Rape Crisis Services also has a 24-7 confidential crisis hotline. If you’d like to reach out for help or support, that number is 719-549-0549.
Pueblo Rape Crisis Services is a non-profit agency located in downtown Pueblo that provides support to survivors of sexual violence.
In 2017, the organization helped more than 400 sexual assault survivors and their families and Roque says that number doesn’t change much from year to year.
