Latest news with #UCASA
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Utah advocates to hold ‘Denim Day' rally at Library Square to raise awareness on sexual violence
SALT LAKE CITY () — Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault (UCASA) is hosting a 'Denim Day' rally at the Salt Lake City Library Square from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23. It will be an event to raise awareness for sexual violence and prevention, as sexual assault has become a growing crime in the Beehive State. Statistics from the health department say one in three women in the state will experience some form of sexual violence in their lives, which is higher than the national rate. 'Denim Day has grown into an international recognition of the need for us to invest in education and prevent violence from happening in the first place,' said Liliana Olvera-Arbon, UCASA Executive Director. The day for sexual assault awareness got its moniker as Denim Day in 1999. In the 90s, the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction because the justices said the victim was wearing tight jeans at the time. They indicated that there would have been no way the perpetrator could've taken off her jeans without her doing it herself, insinuating there must've been consent. This absurd reasoning has become an embarrassing reminder of how quickly society is to disbelieve survivors when it comes to sexual assault. So, for more than two decades, the Denim Day campaign called for people to dress in denim to stand in solidarity with survivors and to call for action to improve responses to violence. Advocates say that the first step to taking a stand starts with believing. 'Shame and silence too often surround sexual assault,' said Dr. Jlie Valentine, a forensic nurse and advocate. 'Start by believing is more than a campaign. It's a commitment to respond with compassion and belief, not skepticism.' The change often starts with its first responders. Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said that over the years, the department has increased training for officers so that they are more sensitive about their actions when dealing with someone who's recently been through trauma. 'When there was a lack of training, there would be times where an officer would respond with a kind of interrogation style,' Redd said. But through training, he said his team has become more trauma-informed and that they're making sure the survivors are receiving the support they need. He urged the public not to hesitate when it comes to reporting a crime. Utah has also made improvements in the state's sexual assault hotline, according to Rep. Angela Romero (D). During a Wednesday morning press conference, Romero said they were able to secure $100,000 for the state's sexual assault response, adding, 'We need a little bit more because that's a 24-hour hotline.' Although the state's capital has made strides when it comes to sexual assault, it has a long way to go before it brings the harrowing statistics of sexual violence down, according to advocates and the city. They called for community action – one of which includes coming out to the Denim Day rally at Library Square on Wednesday evening. They also suggested getting involved with local rape crisis centers and supporting your local communities to let survivors know that they're not alone. Student loan borrowers at risk of garnished wages: What to know New push to limit the way SNAP benefits are used BYU legend Jimmer Fredette retires from basketball Trump signals thaw in trade war with China Utah advocates to hold 'Denim Day' rally at Library Square to raise awareness on sexual violence Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Funding granted to sexual assault prevention following public action
SALT LAKE CITY () — In an Executive Appropriations meeting on Thursday, $600,000 was allotted for statewide sexual assault prevention to be used during the next three years, equating to $200,000 a year. This happening after the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault saw Friday that sexual assault prevention funding was absent from the budget. They then asked the community to reach out to their legislators. PREVIOUS STORY: Utah lawmakers to cut sexual assault prevention funding, advocates asking for community outreach 'We are very grateful, both to the Legislature as well as the community,' Sonya Martinez-Ortiz, executive director of the Rape Recovery Center, expressed during an interview with 'It really is the community, that sort of collective response to our ask, for people to pay attention to this, that moved the needle.' During the brief meeting of the Executive Appropriations Committee (EAC), Jonathan C. Ball, fiscal analyst for the state, didn't mention directly the added funding but noted changes that had been made based off the priorities of the executive branch and subcommittee chairs. 'Also, on this list is a number of items that were priority for the executive branch that were negotiated by EAC chairs and included here,' Ball reported to lawmakers and other members of the EAC. Though the funding had been passed in committee, chances for change are possible when the final appropriations bills, coined the 'bill of bills,' is introduced to the House floor in tomorrow's final day of the legislature. Although funding was secured, members of UCASA are concerned how the cut in sexual assault prevention programs will have on the 13 existing centers who will now have to share that $200,000 a year. 'While we are very grateful to the community, and to everyone that helped to make this happen,' Bethany Crisp, systems director for UCASA, told 'That is still quite a cut from 1.1 million a year, down to that 200,000.' Martinez-Ortiz expanded on this, saying that funding goes towards 13 separate centers across the state. 'There are 13 designated rape crises throughout the state,' Martinez-Ortiz explained. 'So, this does mean that [money] will have to be split up between 13 organizations.' The funding in question is funding used by these organizations in the prevention education efforts. These organizations use it to provide state approved curriculums to Jr. high and High school students about healthy relationships and how to seek out help. These also include programs for university students and other businesses and organizations. 'Taking this big of a hit, it does mean that many of [these organizations] will scale back programs, I can't speak for the other organizations, but we will take the funding that is provided to us, and we will make it go as far as we can make it go,' Martinez-Ortiz stated. If you or anyone you know may be a victim of sexual assault, Crips said to call UCASA's helpline at 801-736-4356 for English or 801-924-0860 for Spanish. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
