HELP FOR VICTIMS OF MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA
The Phone-A-Thoners were back in the Port Authority bus terminal on March 12 asking people to call their Representatives in support of H. Con. Res. 28, “Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding sexual assaults and rape in the military.”
A young woman approached and quietly told us a bit of her story. She is a veteran and had been sexually assaulted while serving. She is out of the military now and is putting a civilian life together with a steady job and a struggle to avoid being unnecessarily paranoid.
She has been to the Veterans Administration for counseling but doesn’t trust the system or the people working in it. The first VA social worker she saw spent the whole interview looking at a computer monitor and never even bothered to make eye contact. She is seeing another person now but is afraid to talk openly because the social worker is connected to the VA.
When we offered to put her in touch with people who could help her she gave us her contact info saying, “Call any time.” Where did we turn next? In our peace-promoting travels we’ve been lucky enough to meet Jen Hogg and Ann Wright, two women who have served in the US military and understand this issue. We asked — they answered.
We also must continue to work on prevention. Please help shed the light of day on this disgrace. Call Congress (202-224-3121). If your Representative is not on the list below ask her/him to co-sponsor H. Con. Res. 28.
– Eva-Lee Baird, with Barbara H, Barbara W, Carla, Caroline, Edith, Fran and Phyllis for the Granny Peace Brigade
Photos: Edith Cresmer and Eva-Lee Baird
H. Con. Res. 28 Sponsor: Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36]
Co-Sponsors:
Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6]
Brady, Robert A. [PA-1]
Burton, Dan [IN-5]
Capps, Lois [CA-23]
DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3]
Filner, Bob [CA-51]
Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7]
Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22]
Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18]
Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14]
Marshall, Jim [GA-8]
Massa, Eric J. J. [NY-29]
McCollum, Betty [MN-4]
McDermott, Jim [WA-7]
McGovern, James P. [MA-3]
Moore, Gwen [WI-4]
Moran, James P. [VA-8]
Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9]
Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7]
Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47]
Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9]
Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29]
Sires, Albio [NJ-13]
Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13]
Turner, Michael R. [OH-3]
Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8]
Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6]
Granny Peace Brigade 