Laura Gonzalez / Roundup
They put their heels on and dressed for the occasion.
Hundreds of men walked a mile in heels Saturday in Sherman Oaks to protest against rape, sexual assault and gender violence. Approximately 50 Pierce College students participated in the march.
The event takes place every year and it is organized by Valley Trauma Center, an organization that helps victims of sexual crimes cope with the aftermath.
“It’s so vital that we create an environment of awareness,” Pierce Professor Jae Farkas said. “I also think it is important for people … to know that Valley Trauma Center provides free assistance to survivors and to their family members.”
Farkas, who joined the organization on Sept. 11, 2001, encourages her students to support the cause.
Men are encouraged to walk the entire mile in heels but many finish with their shoes in their hands.
“I have a whole new respect for women in high heels because this is just horrible” said Pierce student Ali Ekhtebar, 30.
Last year, there were more than 700 reported sexual crimes by the Los Angeles Police Department. The rate has consistently declined since 1992 when the total of reported sexual crimes was 1,861.
But not all sexual crimes are reported to the police.
In many cases victims feel ashamed and embarrassed to tell people, therefore, the majority of these crimes stay in the impunity.
Only 36 percent of completed rapes were reported to the police during the years 1992 to 2000. Thirty-four percent of the attempted rapes, and 26 percent of the completed and attempted sexual assaults were reported, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
“Speaking out is the most important thing and not being embarrassed about it,” said Sheri Cummings, who was the guest speaker. “Men came out here and had to put aside their embarrassment to wear the heels and I think that means that women too, need to put aside their shame talking about when they are raped. Doesn’t matter what the circumstances were. It was wrong and they need to speak out.”
Cummings was raped on March 29, 2007 at her house in Canyon Country, Calif., by a stranger who entered through an open kitchen window.
She became a member of the organization about a year ago and offers counseling to rape victims.
Although the majority of the victims are women, about 3 percent of men have experienced a rape at some point in their lifetime. 71 percent of male victims were first raped before their 18th birthday, 16.6 percent were 18 to 24 years old and 12.3 percent were 25 or older, according to The National Center for Victims of Crime.
Civil rights professor Vitaly, who is also a rape victim, encourages his students to participate in the march.
“I was inspired [to come] by my instructor, Vitaly, and I believe in the cause,” Clay Welch, 23, said.
Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled as unconstitutional the death penalty as punishment for the rape of a child.
“One of the major civil rights that is continuously being violated in our society that nobody takes notices of, that the criminal justice system doesn’t take notice of is rape,” Vitaly said.
Men and women from Cleveland High School, Pierce College and California State University, Northridge, march down Ventura Boulevard to bring more awareness about rape. (Louie Heredia / Roundup)
