"A female in Canada who was raped and humiliated killed herself last week because she couldn't handle it anymore. She was bullied, insulted, and struggled alone thinking she was making it up and she was in the wrong because everyone in her school turned against her -- even her own friends. I am truly devastated to hear this and sickened that she was pushed to that limit and no one was there to be her foundation, to act as the Secondary she desperately needed. Raise your voices, my fellow RISE members! Let this atrocity not go unheard! Regardless of whether you believe a person was actually assaulted or not, don't discount their story. NEVER tell them it wasn't real. NEVER tell them it was their fault. This just... I have no words. For a Survivor who has been to the depths of that darkness and feared there was no way out yet managed to find freedom, I feel so deeply for the Family that lost this beautiful young woman to something so horrible.
NEVER GIVE UP! No matter who turns on you, no matter how alone you get -- YOU. AREN'T. ALONE. WE, those who have RISEN from the darkness, who have become SURVIVORS can and SHALL BE your foundation when no one else will! I'm in tears right now typing this because I am so grateful for the people that were in my life when I came home after leaving my abuser. So grateful for those who willingly stepped up to the plate not knowing what they were getting into and not giving a shit because it was the RIGHT THING TO DO, not because it was the easy one.
So, Rehtaeh Parsons, I pray that you find the peace you did not find on Earth within the boundless expanse of the Summerlands. And may the knowledge that you are eased of your suffering bring some measure of relief to your Family -- even if the loss of you is too great a thing to put into words.
Before I end this, I have a request. On the 20th, for Awareness day, since this case made national headlines for so damn long, let's get together and come up with some way to be the voice this poor girl never had. Even if it's too late to help her heal through it, it's never too late to show others that we're ALWAYS listening."
-Bailey (Official RISE Member)
"It really is heartbreaking that we've lost another rape victim to suicide. What's it gonna take for people to see that victim blaming kills?!?"
-Kylie (RISE Founder)
R.I.P. Rehtaeh Parsons.
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