On Saturday, April 26, Auburn’s Project Response hosted its fourth annual Sexual Assault Awareness “Walk a Mile in Their Shoes” event. The walk was held at the City Recreational Complex and featured a brunch, a silent auction and, of course, the walk.
Before turning the 50 or 60 walkers off on the route, sexual assault advocate Halee Jeffries addressed the attendees. Jeffries explained the importance of a support group for victims of sexual assault, and led a group in an activity that showed just how easy it can be for a victim to lose their support group. Following the activity, walkers were allowed to begin the lap around the complex.
The route began to the north and followed the path around the campsites and baseball fields first. Along the way, various signs were posted with facts, reassurances and motivations all pertaining to sexual assault and its survivors. As well as the signs were the steps that a sexual assault survivor goes through from the moment the assault takes place and throughout the healing journey. About halfway along the route, walkers were shown a display of the various outfits worn just before a sexual assault took place. The display was meant to breakdown the myths and misinformation that indecent clothing results in the indecent act of sexual assault. It was clear by the hung-up outfits that the idea that the clothes worn have anything to do with the heinous act is simply false, as some of the outfits included jeans and a t-shirt, pajamas and long floral skirts and modest blouses.
