ST. GEORGE — For the first time in St. George, the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault will hold a MeToo town hall meeting where survivors of sexual assault in the community will have a safe place to openly discuss what happened to them.
Laurie Hofmann, board chair for UCASA, will be leading the town hall in St. George on June 27 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the St. George Library.
Hofmann said she got the idea at a Christmas party in 2017 with staff members, supporters and donors of UCASA. They were waiting to hear the election results of Roy Moore, a judge who ran to fill a Senate seat for Alabama and was eventually defeated by Doug Jones. Moore was accused of sexually assaulting multiple women.
“I was horrified that we could possibly be electing a man to the United States Senate who had been accused of sexually assaulting young women,” Hofmann said. “I thought, ‘How in the world in this day and age could we possibly put this kind of person in that kind of position of power?‘”
She announced to the guests at the party that regardless of the results of the election, UCASA would start holding MeToo town halls all across Utah to address the issue of sexual assault.
“I thought we need to have conversations in a safe place where people who have been silenced for maybe decades can openly talk about what happened to them,” she said.
Hofmann said these town halls allow communities to understand sexual assault from a survivor’s perspective and recognize what conversations need to happen, like bystander intervention.
It’s the UCASA hopes that with the results from the town halls in Utah, they will be able to gather information to better understand what is happening in the state and how to help victims and survivors of sexual assault, she said.
“This is really a listening tour,” she said. “Because of MeToo, Times Up and what we’ve seen across the country, people are finally feeling like maybe they can open up and speak about these horrific experiences they’ve had.”
To learn more about the town hall, visit UCASA’s website.
Event details
- What: St. George MeToo town hall.
- When: Wednesday, June 27, 6:30-8 p.m.
- Where: St. George Library, 88 W. 100 South.
- Cost: Free and open to the public.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews | @markeekaenews
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.
Opening the door for more false accusations…
And a great place for those sneaky little vermin, the perverts, to vicariously enjoy the tales of woe.
“sneaky little vermin, the perverts, to vicariously enjoy the tales of woe”
M&M, I know you well enough to know that you’re referring to yourself there, and maybe not even fully conciously. hahahaha 😉
haha cheers buddy 😉
Do you really want to reopen “old wounds?” This whole ME TOO has created a lot of problems for so many people, even the victims. 20 plus-year-old recollections of assault are brought forward. People forget and memories are clouded.
I’ve had a few issues and find have found friends, support groups, and therapy is the best place to “talk” about such personal issues. When old wounds open up, due process is forgotten, emotions rule, allegations are made that wouldn’t hold in a court of law without firm evidence. St George or even Utah doesn’t need this to happen.
Go to the police and then a good counselor!
Don’t you think the survivors are capable of deciding what is the best for them?
Survivors are very capable and should definitely have a say in what’s best for them.
Now if we can get the perps brought to light that are hiding behind their Church, political and company management badges….
Gee Jaltair, just go to the police Huh. See Utah history of prosecuting rape cases. See apology by SLC Police Chief for not processing rape kits. Utah is one of the safest states to get away with rape. Yes in the last 2 years the tied has changed as this embarrassing situation was brought into the open by brave victims and there has been some improvement. So yea, let the “me too” folks have their meeting in St George. Mesaman, calling you out too. Takes one to know what them ones would like huh. So you better not attend, but I’m sure you are tempted. In the words of the Beatles, let it be.
2nd grade much… I know you are but what am I?