Violent threats led victims’ group to cancel SC sexual assault awareness event
The 10th annual “Walk a Mile in Their Shoes” event in Columbia was canceled Wednesday after violent threats were made against the organization running the function, the group said in a news release.
During the event, participating men march while wearing women’s high-heeled shoes to raise awareness to stop sexual assaults, according to Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands. It is also a fundraiser, and in a past event, more than $80,000 was raised for the organization and the victims of sexual assault it serves, it said on its website.
But this year’s march slated to be held at the South Carolina State House was canceled because of threatening phone calls made to the organization’s 24-hour hotline, it said in a news release. The event was scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Thursday, WLTX reported.
Multiple calls threatening the staff and organization were made Tuesday, the group said in the news release.
“As this case is not yet resolved and as our primary responsibility is advancing the health and well being of our clients, staff, and those who support our work in the community, we choose to cancel tomorrow’s Walk A Mile In Their Shoes at the South Carolina State House,” the news release said.
Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands, formerly known as the Rape Crisis Network, said in the news release it has faith in local law enforcement to “ensure our safety and provide security,” and is “grateful” it is investigating the threats.
Several prominent law enforcement officers and politicians have participated in the event in the past, including Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, Forest Acres Police Chief M.E. Shealy and Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin among others, The State reported.
While it is not unusual for threats to be made to the organization, its executive director said the nature of these calls prompted action.
“We get crazy calls on a fairly regular basis,” Executive Director Mary Dell Hayes said, according to the Free Times. “People will either say very obscene things or make threatening comments. But this felt a little different. One, it was a higher level of threat than we typically receive, and also I think in 2019 you take these things a little more seriously than you did in 2017.”
Although the walk has been canceled, the organization still wants people to speak out against sexual violence.
“We encourage everyone to use their voice to support survivors in our families and communities,” the group said in the news release.
Hayes asked people to go on social media to share their voice, using the hashtags #WhyIWalk and #SCWAM, WHNS reported.
“Let’s identify ways that we can support survivors in our community and better identify and prevent violence,” Hayes said, according to the TV station.
This story was originally published April 10, 2019 at 10:40 PM with the headline "Violent threats led victims’ group to cancel SC sexual assault awareness event."
