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Sexual Trauma Survivors to DC

Help us bring 500 Black Roses to DC to represent 500,000 veterans treated for Military Sexual Trauma



"It is up to all of us to ensure victims of sexual violence are  
not left to face these trials alone. Too often, survivors suffer  in silence, fearing retribution, lack of support, or that the  criminal justice system will fail to bring the perpetrator to  justice. We must do more to raise awareness about the  realities of sexual assault; confront and change insensitive  attitudes wherever they persist; enhance training and  education in the criminal justice system; and expand access  to critical health, legal, and protection services for  survivors" BO
 
My name is Olga Ferrer, I served in the USAF from 1988 to 1997. In 1991 while serving in the Gulf War I was assault by one of my brother in arms. As many victims of assult I suffer in silenced for many years, letting my invisible wound fester inside of me like a cancer. Punishing myself for something that I didn't have control over it. Because of my own experience I have started a campaign called A Black Rose: Campaign for Awareness.
On 2012 a study release by the Department of Veterans Affairs show that 500,000 veterans where treated for MST.
Our focus is to bring awareness to the issue of sexual assault, harassment, abuse, stalking, etc. faced by serving members of our armed forces.
Our philosophy is that the men and women who serve our nation should not have to worry about being assaulted by their fellow servicemen and women. We invite service members and veterans to request a rose in their honor that represents their trauma and quest for recovery. We hope to put a story to every statistic and make this issue impossible to ignore.
We know rape is rape and we believe that a person's right to be free of sexual assault does not end when he or she dons the uniform. To the contrary, we vest our military with great power and responsibility. 
 
Why we need you support?  
On Memorial Day every year we honor our survivors with a ceremony thats culminate by calling their names one by one while we lay a black rose that represent the sacrifice that our courageous warriors have to endured.  
 
These veterans and military members serve and protect our country. They sacrifice their lives and their hearts for the freedoms we enjoy every day. In return, we have kept quite about the atrocities of rape and sexual abuse soldiers face each and every day. This cannot continue. 
 
Together, we can shed light on a dark and horrifying truth that has been left alone for far to long. If you like more information about our mission and resources please visit our website: http://www.ablackrose.org  regarding abuse in the military and our campaign. 
 
You don't have to be a victim of abuse to show your support! You just have to care about our military members and veterans. 
 

Organizer

Olga Ferrer
Organizer
Saint Cloud, FL

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