Honoring Bob Schwiderski

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Honoring Bob Schwiderski 

Since 1992, Bob Schwiderski has been an relentless and outspoken powerhouse when it comes advocating for the civil rights of adult survivors of sexual abuse.   

Besides being a Veteran of the Vietnam war, Bob is also a survivor of clergy sexual abuse by a priest.

Back in 1994, Bob was one of three former altar boys, who came forward and filed a civil suit against St. John's Catholic Church in Hector, MN along with the Dioceses of New Ulm, after accusing Rev. Wm. J. Marks of sexually abusing them.   Robert stated that his abuse began back in 1956 when he was 7 years-old and lasted until he was 13.

In Memory of Feige Aufscher

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

In Memory of Feige Aufscher

Back in 1892, at the young age of fourteen, an orphan by the name of Feige Aufscher was one of the star witnesses in the case of Mendel Goldenberg.  During her testimony she shared that she had been kidnapped and used in a prostitution ring lead by Goldenberg in a series of brothels in Constantinople.  The two week trial took place in Lemberg, Poland

If it wasn't for the bravery and tenacity of this teenager, she wouldn't have found  a way to get a message to the authorities, who were able to liberate her and the other teenage girls and young women who were being held captive.  The trial was front page news in all the Polish newspapers.   Because of her bravery she was able to help countless other women.

Honoring Ellen Mugmon

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Honoring Ellen Mugmon

Ellen Mugmon has been advocating for the the rights of children in the state of Maryland in various capacities for over twenty years.  She is highly honored and respected for her lobbying efforts in making laws better for children living in the State of Maryland.

Over the years she's received numerous awards and honors for her work including being listed as one of the Maryland's Top 100 Women in the Marylad Daily Record, receiving the First Annual Governor's Council on Child Advocacy and Neglect Award back in 1999 and the  Child Advocacy Award by the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics back in 1997.  

Honoring Tim Walsh

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Honoring Tim Walsh

For almost a decade Tim Walsh has had the audacity and courage to speak his mind when it comes to advocating for the State of New York to rid it's self of the archaic laws on the books when it comes to the statute of limitations in which a survivor of a sex crime has to file a civil suit against their offender(s).  Tim has spent thousands of hours researching and disseminating information for his daily e-mails that is received by activists globally, along with working with various advocacy groups in hopes of learning from them in hopes of making New York a safer place to raise children.

Because of Tim's tenacity to shine a light on many dark and ugly secrets, there has been a small group of people who have been spreading ugly rumors about his personhood.  Though these attempts at destroying his reputation may be painful, they have not stopped Tim or the important work he's been doing.  Instead he draws strength from them, because of this we should all see Tim Walsh as a hero and should be honored and respected as one.  Next time you see Tim.  Please stand up and give him a round of applause.  

Advocating for the rights of survivors of sex crimes makes you a "Radical Feminist"?

Are you aware that if you advocated for survivors of sex crimes, you too would have been considered "a radical feminist" back in the 1960s - 1970s?

DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Charles Hynes and the Jewish Community Watch

DEMAND TRANSPARENCY:  Charles Hynes and the Jewish Community Watch

Charles Hynes and Meir Seewald of the Jewish Community Watch

Over the last several years there have been many reports in the news media relating to orthodox Jewish groups and organization associated with the Kings County District Attorney's office in Brooklyn relating to allegations of witness tampering and obstruction of justice when it came to prosecuting sex crimes in the ultra-orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn.

Back on December 13, 2012 at a Hanukkah party, which was hosted by Charles Hynes (the DA of Brooklyn).  During this event, Hynes presented an award to Meyer Seewald (AKA: Meir Seewald, Myer Seewald), who runs a web page called "Jewish Community Watch."

Ever since Meir Seewald received his award, there have been several complaints by individuals who utilized the services of his organization which are concerning.   

As with any group or individual who proclaims to advocate for survivors of sex crimes, we all must be asking the following questions prior to utilizing their services:

1. What kind of specialized education and training do those associated with the organization have in working with survivors?   
2. Do the volunteers in the organization receive clinical supervision from an licensed mental health professional who has specialized training working with survivors of sex crimes?  
3. If they do receive supervision, who is that person and what training do they have?
4. Does the organization clearly state on their web page who is on the board of directors?
5. Do volunteers and staff members have to sign a confidentiality agreement prior to advocating for anyone? If there's a violation of this policy, what repercussions will there be?
6. Does the organization have 501c3 status or in the process of receiving it?
7. What are their policies in dealing with sex offenders? If they have a sex offender registry do they have a policy in place to remove names of individuals if necessary? If they do, what is that policy?

We all must be demanding that those calling themselves "advocates" be trained by legitimate rape crisis centers, sign confidentiality agreements and also that there be transparency in order to assure that Orthodox Jewish Survivors receive the same civil rights and privileges as survivors from the rest of the population of the United States.

When watching to following film clip be aware that many people mentioned and seen, are people who in the past have been named by multiple Jewish survivors who attempted to use their services as being problematic.
  

Also see the following list other of individuals and organizations that have never received the official 40 hour rape victim advocacy training from an official rape crisis center such as the New York Coalition Against Rape or RAINN:

• Case of Kal Holczer
• Case of Dr. Rabbi Asher Lipner
• Regarding the SOVRI Helpline and Mandated Reporting 

Becoming A Sexual Abuse/Assault Advocate

Many people want call themselves a sexual abuse/assault advocate.  To be one the requirements is for individuals to complete extensive training to become certified to work with survivors in the Emergency Department setting. 

Requirements vary state to state and program to program. Many programs require a 40 hour in-depth training that teaches basic crisis counseling, the role of the criminal justice system and medical treatment of the survivor, as well as incorporating role playing, hospital visits, lectures and guest speakers including survivor panels, district attorneys, special victims unit detectives, sexual assault examiners and advocates.

Most programs require a commitment of at least one-year of on call service monthly as well as re-certification on an ongoing basis. 

Advocate programs exists often in conjunction with local hospitals or crisis centers. To find a program near you contact your local official Rape Crisis Center.

What's more important? Protecting innocent children and adults, or the images of our community leaders?

© (2011) by Vicki Polin


This is one my all time favorite songs.  I hate to tell you how many time it plays in my head, especially when working with the establishment in the orthodox world when trying to help Jewish survivors of sexual abuse/assault. 

The game playing sickens me so much. Why is it that so many rabbis connected to bet dins (Jewish religious courts), believe that orthodox children do not deserve the same rights and protections as non-orthodox children?

The only way things will change is when the vast number orthodox rabbis care more about child and adult survivors then they do about their own images and assets.  I hate to say it, yet as long as communities give away their own personal power various rabbis will continue to play havoc on so many peoples lives.

Remembering Florence Rush - Founder of the Anti-Child Sexual Abuse Movement

Florence Rush, 90, feminist author who focused on child sexual abuse

The Villager - December 24, 2008

Florence Rush, author of “The Best Kept Secret: Sexual Abuse of Children,” and the first feminist theorist to call children’s sexual abuse a political and patriarchal issue, died on Tues., Dec. 9, at her home at 61 Jane St., just short of her 91st birthday.

Florence was born in Manhattan and grew up in the Bronx before moving to Westchester in the early 1950s. She worked as a psychiatric social worker and community activist in New Rochelle, was married and raised three children. Rush joined a chapter of Older Women’s Liberation (OWL) in 1970 and subsequently moved to Greenwich Village.

She electrified a New York Radical Feminist Conference on Rape in April 1971, winning a standing ovation for her speech on what was then a startling new concept: Her theory, inspired by evidence she had collected in a facility for delinquent girls, identified familiar males — fathers, stepfathers, older brothers, uncles, neighbors and family friends — as the major sexual abusers of children, and traced the toleration of such abuse to the beginnings of history and cultural/religious customs. Family abuse had been ignored by the reigning Freudian psychologists of the day, who preferred to theorize about seductive children and girlish fantasies.

A wealth of books on child sexual abuse written by academics, journalists and celebrities followed Rush’s pioneering papers and lectures, while personal accounts were to become a staple on television talk shows. Rush’s “The Best Kept Secret” was published in 1980.

When Rush’s younger son, Matthew, was stricken with AIDS in the mid-1980s, she formed one of the first mothers’ support groups. A lecturer for Women Against Pornography in its early years, she later worked with the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), on its Images of Children in the Media Committee. She also enjoyed a weekly poker game with neighbors and friends until failing health curtailed her activities.

She is survived by her son, Thomas, her daughter, Eleanor, and two grandchildren. She also leaves a network of friends who warmly recall her gracious hospitality in New York and on Fire Island, and who will never forget her brilliant, original mind, her singular contribution to feminist theory, her nurturing advice and aid, her impossible platform shoes, and her baked lasagna.

Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg - Victim Advocate Speaks Out About Being Shot

Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg's life is in danger

Rabbi Rosenberg's life is in danger. There are many who are attempting to discredit him and or set him up because he has been speaking out against a community that cares more about money then they do the safety of their children.

I also fear that there are some in law enforcement who wish him ill. We all need to do what ever is possible to protect him. After several conversations I had with a particular individual I have a strong feeling that he or his family might be harmed again.

Let this be a warning that those of us who are connected to The Awareness Center are watching and demanding that he be protected.

(Rabbi Rosenberg's name is also spelled Nuchem Rosenberg or Nochum Rosenberg)

The attacks against Rabbi Rosenberg seem to happen when he's trying to go to synagogue to pray. Even though those who trying to harm him are Jewish -- I personally believe this should be considered a hate crime.

Rabbi Nauchm Rosenberg has been advocating for Jewish survivors of sexual violence in Williamsburg/Borough Park (Brooklyn) New York for over 35 years.

Over the last several months he had his life threatened if he did not close down a hotline in which he would explain to parents and children how to report sex crimes. After the second time he was warned at gun point he closed down the hot-line. Right before the Jewish holiday of Sukkot he left a message wishing the Jewish people a good holiday. During the week of Sukot he was on his way to pray at shul when there was a drive by shooting in which attempted to kill him.

Please listen to him tell his story and demand that he is protected. His goal is to help survivors make police reports and testify in court to help put an end to sex crimes in his community and around the globe.

NOTE: this is a four part series. Please watch all 4 parts.

Part 1 (in this part Rabbi Rosenberg was repeating the presentation he did at Cardozo Law School at a press event)

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Testifying at Legislative Hearings

© (2007) By Bob Russel and Vicki Polin

If you are a survivors of childhood sexual abuse who is considering to provide testimony at legislative hearings please be aware of some the risks you may endure. 

Please note that it is NOT mandatory that you sign the statement to testify, it is simply a request that you read and fully understand the risks involved in taking an active role in this legislative process. 

In the past survivors who testified, shared a common experience -- the feeling of DEVASTATION, was moderate to severe. While providing testimony to make laws better is just and noble, yet it is also important to be aware of the risks. We all need to have support people in which we can debrief with immediately afterwards and the weeks or months afterwards. Doing so can help elevate the degree of devastation we may experience. 

In an effort to warn each and every person who is considering providing testimony, it is suggested that you read and accept the statement below before agreeing to testify. The choice is totally yours and there is no expectation for you to publicly take a stand. There is the requirement that you put your own personal needs first. It is vitally important for you to take care of yourself!

1. I acknowledge that I or someone that I love was sexually abused, as a child. 
   
   
2. I acknowledge that significant to severe trauma resulted because of that abuse (to myself or my family member, friend, etc.). 
   
   
3. My intention is to bring public awareness and attention to what has happened in the past. 
   
   
4. I believe that by speaking publicly, my testimony will enable me to seek some level of justice for my own personal victimization that I experienced as a child and endured over a lifetime (or that of someone I love). 
   
   
5. I understand that providing testimony could result in me feeling re-traumatized/victimized. 
   
   
6. I understand that there are very powerful opponents to this legislation that have significant influence on legislators in stealth like manner. 
   
   
7. I understand that no matter how wrong I feel they are, they still wield influence that is secretive, very well financed and have been historically successful in killing legislation to right this wrong and to protect future generations of children. I understand this is at the expense of current and future generations of children as well as the re victimization of myself as a survivor. 
   
   
8. I UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THE PERSONAL RISKS of feeling overwhelmed by sharing my abuse experiences. 
   
   
9. I understand that I may feel angry, sad, depressed and re-victimized should this proposed legislation not pass. 
   
   
10. I agree to have safe people in place to debrief with immediately after providing my testimony and for the months to come. These safe people can include other survivors, family members, friends and or a therapist. 
    
    
11. Above all else, I agree to put my own well being first.

With this understanding I still wish to testify in hopes of seeking justice for what happened to me as a child (or my loved one) and most important to ensure that I do what I can to protect future innocent children from harm in the future. 

_____________________________________________________

Signature

___________________________________

                              Date 

___________________________________________________________________________________

Bob Russell is the coordinator of SNAP of Maryland

Vicki Polin is the founder and director of The Awareness Center