April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and today, to close out this month, I felt I would bring you an incredibly important story to me. You all have empowered me to finally speak my truth and share my survivor story. This is why I advocate.

A special thank you to all who participated in sharing "Why I Advocate" for this episode.

And an extra special thank you to Rosebud Ireland for lending us her beautiful song Sister Survivors for this episode.

RAINN.org | 1-800-656-4673

bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy

In May of 1996, California Polytechnic freshman Kristin Smart attended a birthday party for a friend on campus. She was walked back to her dorm by Paul Flores, never to be seen or heard from again. Flores had been suspected in her murder since the beginning, but hardly any evidence could prove Kristin was even dead. New developments have led to Flores' arrest and new information about his past. Find out more in this episode.

RAINN.org | 1-800-656-4673

bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy

References:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/09/07/kristin-smart-vanished-in-1996-authorities-say-she-may-be-buried-on-her-college-campus/

https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/crime/article100287482.html

https://www.recordnet.com/article/20070524/A_NEWS/705240316

https://calcoastnews.com/2020/02/paul-flores-detained-in-disappearance-of-kristin-smart/

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/14/us/kristin-smart-case-district-attorney/index.html

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/paul-flores-suspect-in-kristin-smart-case-was-subject-of-redondo-beach-rape-investigation-14-years-ago/

https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article250978094.html

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-27/kristin-smart-paul-flores-la-sexual-assault-claims

Today, April 28, 2021 marks another Denim Day. Hear all about the case that sparked this movement (and the absurd 'Jeans Alibi') and why it is so important to wear your denim today!

https://www.rcne.com/contact/countries/italy/ | +39 055 602311 (violence against women); + 39 055 601375 (violence against children) | http://www.artemisiacentroantiviolenza.it/

RAINN.org | 1-800-656-4673

bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy

References:

https://www.denimdayinfo.org/history

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/italians-protest-rape-ruling/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/277881.stm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denim_Day

Brandon Lee Dye was born November 4, 1988. From what I could find on his Facebook page it seemed he had struggled with addiction for a long while and he acknowledged that he had a lot of grief and trauma that he needed to work through and alluded to his drug use being caused by this trauma. On the night of July 15, 2019, in Virginia, Brandon was at home in with his girlfriend, Megan Anne Walthall. Find out what happened that night and why we discuss this case during SAAM.

RAINN.org | 1-800-656-4673

bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy

References:

https://nypost.com/2021/03/04/woman-sentenced-for-sexually-abusing-boyfriend-as-he-died/

https://www.foundandsons.com/obituaries/Brandon-Dye/#!/Obituary

https://martinsvillebulletin.com/news/state-and-regional/fredericksburg-woman-gets-16-years-in-prison-for-abusing-boyfriend-before-he-died-of-overdose/article_4ab9fa82-e6f7-55fc-9666-8cc096f167af.html

https://potomaclocal.com/2012/10/25/girl-told-father-about-slaying-mother/

https://www.foundandsons.com/obituaries/Brenda-Dye/#!/Obituary

The Manhattan, NY, DA has decided his office will no longer prosecute sex workers following suit behind a few other jurisdictions in the US. Find out what this means for sex workers and johns.

bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy

Reference:

https://www.npr.org/2021/04/21/989588072/a-relic-and-burden-manhattan-district-attorney-to-stop-prosecuting-prostitution

In June 2017, Manchester graduate student Reynhard Sinaga was arrested on 136 counts of rape of young men around Manchester. He was ultimately convicted of all counts for drugging and raping these young men. Hear about this resilience of these survivors and how Sinaga's case helped so many more young men come forward about their sexual assaults.

bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy

rainn.org | 1-800-656-4673

supportline.org.uk | 01708 765200

References:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-50688975

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-50987823

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jan/25/friends-flatmates-reynhard-sinaga

On March 3, 2021, Sarah Everard was kidnapped while walking home from a friend's house. One week later her remains were discovered and a police officer was arrested for her murder. Hear why street harassment is such an important topic to discuss during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

International Anti-Street Harassment Week - April 11-17, 2021

Find out more: https://www.ihollaback.org/about/

bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy

References:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/police-officer-charged-kidnap-murder-sarah-everard-case-gripped-u-n1261010

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/wayne-couzens-know-officer-arrested-23694346

https://stopstreetharassment.org/resources/statistics/

About 3% of American men—or 1 in 33—have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. In the UK, 4% of men have experienced some type of sexual assault since the age of 16. Sam Thompson became a statistic, but found a way out of the trauma. Hear how his story helped improve law enforcements response to sexual assaults perpetrated against men.

bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy

rainn.org | 1-800-656-4673

supportline.org.uk | 01708 765200

References:

https://www.rainn.org/statistics/victims-sexual-violence#:~:text=About%203%25%20of%20American%20men,completed%20rape%20in%20their%20lifetime.&text=1%20out%20of%20every%2010%20rape%20victims%20are%20male.

https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-informed/about-sexual-violence/statistics-sexual-violence/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/f78ad097-77d7-4ec0-8014-54ace0fc4b11