As many of you know the jury reached a verdict in the Sandusky trial on June 22, finding him guilty on 45 of the 48 counts related to the sexual abuse of ten victims. This outcome would not have been possible without the brave testimony of the survivors in this case. We are humbled by their courage and their willingness to share their stories in order to hold Sandusky accountable and prevent the victimization of other children.
In a press conference following the verdict, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Linda Kelly, stated that "one of the recurring themes of the victims' testimony was 'who would believe a kid?' And the answer is, 'we here in Bellefonte, PA will believe a kid.'" We hope that this powerful message is heard by children and survivors in all communities. We will believe.
Resources
- Read the response to the verdict from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape HERE.
- Revisit WCSAP's responses to the Sandusky case to find resources and strategies for your child sexual abuse media advocacy and prevention efforts.
Remember to take care of yourself...
The resources below offer self-care suggestions if you are feeling overwhelmed or triggered by recent news coverage:
- Getting Through Sexual Abuse Scandals and Depression by Olga Trujillo
- Some Things You Can Do If News Coverage of Abuse Stories is Getting To You by MaleSurvivor
In Solidarity,
WCSAP