In solidarity with victims and survivors of sexual assault, Denver landmarks are lighting up in teal as part of the city's Sexual Assault Awareness Month initiatives and the Start by Believing campaign, the Denver Police Department posted on their social media. The Ball Arena, the McNichols Building, Empower Field at Mile High, and various others are participating in this effort to support those who have experienced sexual violence and to promote public education on believing victims' reports, in the same vein as we might believe someone reporting the theft of their car.
According to the Denver Police Department, the campaign comes with a message of education and a push for community involvement, the public is being directed to resources that can provide help and information, this including the organization's website detailing the Start by Believing campaign. These resources aim to be a beacon for those seeking assistance, providing various access points for support from hotlines to specialized nursing services.
The city's landmarks are not only glowing teal but are serving as visible reminders of a commitment to transform the way we respond to sexual assault, and the campaign encourages everyone to educate themselves about the importance of supporting survivors. The Start by Believing campaign is a community-driven approach that underscores the pivotal role of individual and collective belief in the healing journey of survivors. The campaign’s central message, highlighted by the department, is a call for empathetic and supportive responses to disclosures of sexual assault.
To further the reach of this message and provide relevant support, the Denver Police Department shares an array of resources such as the Start by Believing website, SeekthenSpeak.org, and hotlines like The Blue Bench's Sexual Assault Hotline, in efforts to make these forms of support simultaneously widely known and easily accessible, these efforts being an integral part of addressing and mitigating the impact of sexual violence within the community. The initiative's success hinges on the public's willingness to learn, to believe, but most importantly, to act in support of those who have faced sexual assault, considering the profound weight of acknowledgment and acceptance in the healing process.
