Wrangellites will have the opportunity March 29 to participate in a statewide event aimed to raise awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault in Alaska.
A march from the elementary school, down to the ferry terminal and back, will be held at 4 p.m. next week in Wrangell. Public Health and the Healthy Wrangell Coalition are sponsoring the event, which is part of the governor’s “Choose Respect” campaign.
Gov. Sean Parnell created the annual event began in 2010. Each year, thousands of Alaskans from over 100 communities participate in an effort to end the epidemic of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child sexual abuse.
Wrangell has participated each year because domestic and sexual abuse is an important issue for Alaskans, said event organizer and Public Health Nurse Janet Strom.
“We need to be aware of it and stand up against it,” she said.
Alaska statistics of domestic and sexual assault incidents are higher than anywhere else in the country. For instance, Alaska’s rate of forcible rape is nearly two and a half times higher than the national average, according to federal statistics.
Also, 56.6 percent of women in Alaska have experienced intimate partner or sexual violence in their lifetime. And, nearly 75 percent of Alaskans have reported experiencing or knowing someone who has experienced domestic violence or sexual assault, according to statistic’s posted on the governor’s “Choose Respect” website.
Last year, about 40 people participated in Wrangell’s march, Strom said. Many marches in other communities around Alaska take place March 29 at noon.
However, Strom said Wrangell scheduled its march for 4 p.m. in order to give students the opportunity to participate.
“Adults, families, children and everyone will walk in support of this issue,” Strom said.
Carmen Guitierrez, deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Corrections will be in Wrangell for the march next week.
Those who wish to participate in the event should meet at the elementary school.
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