Community comes together in support of sexual assault victims and survivors

BROWNSVILLE, Tenn. — A local city is building a stronger community for victims and survivors.

“April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and specifically in Brownsville and Haywood County, we’re just trying to shine a light — ‘Illuminating West Tennessee’ is the overall theme,” said Candice Sanders, WRAP Sexual Assault Response Advocate. “And we just want to shine a light and bring awareness to sexual assault awareness, but also kind of shine the light on victims and survivors of sexual assault.”

On Wednesday, at the Haywood County Justice Complex, members of WRAP, the City, law enforcement, community members and many others involved in helping those who have suffered, came together for the announcement of the new proclamation of Sexual Assault Awareness Month for Brownsville and Haywood County.

Candice Sanders is a Haywood County native, and after returning home, she has passionately went to work to be an advocate for those who are victims and survivors of sexual assault.

“I’m a victim and survivor of sexual assault,” Sanders said. “I was a victim before I was ever survivor. So that’s why I use both of those terms.”

For Sanders and those in attendance, the goal is clear moving forward.

“For victims and survivors to know that we stand with them. You stand alongside them. We will not be silent about sexual assault, not in Brownsville and Haywood County, and especially as long as I’m an advocate here,” she said.

One of the ways that WRAP and the other departments involved in 1 Safe Place stands with victims and survivors is by giving them choices.

“Sexual assault is very stigmatized. There’s so much shame surrounding it,” Sanders said. “And I want to begin to eliminate that and to let people know and, especially the victims and survivors know, that they are welcome to come to the justice complex, that they are welcome to call a law enforcement. They are welcome to call WRAP. We keep our services confidential and they don’t have to, they don’t have to even tell law enforcement if they don’t want to, to get our services.”

Sanders added, for children 17 and under, she discloses her duty to report abuse if it is shared with her, so the minors still have a choice on how much to share.

Click here for more information on resources available from WRAP.

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