April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Each April, we rally to draw attention to an issue that our culture often turns a blind eye to.

By now, the statistics may be familiar, but they never cease to outrage us: 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men in the US will experience attempted or completed rape, 15% of victims are under the age of 12, and 73% of all sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim.

SAAM is about all of us, survivors and friends, parents, coworkers, teachers, neighbors, and relatives of survivors, standing together to say: “This is not OK, this should not be happening, and we are here for each other.” Join us.

• April 10th, Pittsfield: Park Square, 4-6pm.

• April 17th, Great Barrington: across from the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 4-6pm.

• April 24th, North Adams: City Hall lawn (in front of City Hall), 4-6pm.

Just bring yourself and your friends, we’ll bring signs for anyone who’d like to carry one. Call (413) 499-2425 for more information.