Muskingum Co. Domestic Violence Coalition Raises Awareness for Sexual Assault

ZANESVILLE, OH – Thursday at Zane State College, the Muskingum County Domestic Violence Coalition took a stand against sexual assault with a public awareness event.

The gathering was centered on educating the community about the impacts of sexual assault and to extend support to those who have been affected by it.

“I think it’s hard for people to talk about sexual assault and to get awareness out to people that it really does happen. I know our community and other communities think it doesn’t happen here and they tend to blame the victim if it does. I think it’s important to understand that it’s very hard for people to come forward and if they do, they need support,”  Legal Advocate for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Dorothy Thomas said.

The event featured heartfelt stories and insights from individuals, including a powerful speech from a survivor. This was an opportunity for victims, survivors, and the community to come together in a supportive environment to learn, share, and heal.

“My feedback from last year was really great. People didn’t understand a lot of it. I think understanding the people is importance. People see me as a victim advocate, but they don’t see me as a survivor. I think it’s important,” Thomas said.

The Muskingum County Domestic Violence Coalition plans to host this event again next year.