I Stand With You

Survivors

If you choose to share your story, I will listen. If you choose to report, I will support you. If this happened today, this week, or even decades ago, I will believe you.

If you’ve never had to share this kind of news with a friend or loved one, then you cannot imagine how hard it is to let the words rise up your throat and leave your mouth.

If you’ve never had to walk up to a police station and say “I need to report a crime”, you cannot comprehend how every inch of your body shakes at the mere thought of it and your heart starts beating so hard you think it might actually break through your chest.

When a survivor of sexual assault or rape comes forward and shares his or her story with you or with others, please know that it took a world of courage to do just that. Whatever you do, don’t pour shame or guilt on top of their trauma.

Don’t let your filters set a time limit on when you think it’s appropriate for them to share THEIR STORY of what happened to them. Please don’t fall into the trap of thinking that too much time has passed for it to “matter”. It always matters.

Survivors should feel open to share their story when THEY are ready, without pressure, shame or judgement.

If this crime happened to you 30 years ago or 30 minutes ago, it is the same in my book. I stand with you. I hold space for you.

If you need a space to say the unimaginable, I will hear you.

If you need someone to believe you, I see you.

When you are ready, I am ready.

Survivors, even if you never share... know that my heart still believes you and I still stand with you.

As a fellow survivor, I stand with you.